Question

in studying the use of external stimuli to reduce the itching sensation caused by an allergic histamine response, louise ward and colleagues found that while harmless applications of vibration or warming can provide a temporary distraction, such ____ stimuli actually offer less relief than a stimulus that seems less benign, like a mild electric shock.
1 mark for review
which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
a deceptive
b innocuous
c novel
d impractical

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze the context. The sentence compares stimuli: "harmless applications of vibration or warming" vs. a stimulus that "seems less benign". We need a word for stimuli that seem less benign but actually offer less relief. "Novel" (new, unusual) fits because a novel stimulus (like a mild electric shock) might seem more intense (less benign) but actually provides less relief than harmless ones. Let's check other options: "deceptive" implies trickery, not matching. "Innocuous" means harmless, opposite of what's needed. "Impractical" relates to usefulness, not the stimulus's nature. So "novel" logically completes the text as a new/unusual stimulus contrasts with harmless ones.

Answer:

C. novel