Last visit was: 14 Jul 2025, 18:33 It is currently 14 Jul 2025, 18:33
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
dvtohir
Joined: 13 Jan 2007
Last visit: 26 Jan 2009
Posts: 45
Own Kudos:
74
 [67]
Posts: 45
Kudos: 74
 [67]
10
Kudos
Add Kudos
57
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
hkfcheung
Joined: 21 Nov 2005
Last visit: 05 May 2007
Posts: 7
Own Kudos:
6
 [3]
Posts: 7
Kudos: 6
 [3]
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
avatar
shoonya
Joined: 06 Jul 2004
Last visit: 18 Mar 2008
Posts: 164
Own Kudos:
1,047
 [2]
Location: united states
Posts: 164
Kudos: 1,047
 [2]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
vineetgupta
Joined: 29 Jul 2006
Last visit: 25 Jul 2009
Posts: 377
Own Kudos:
1,375
 [2]
Posts: 377
Kudos: 1,375
 [2]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Its B.
Hi shoonya,the problem with E is that we are not concerned whether the typhus is fatal or not...the main point of the argument is why only a few evidence of this disease is found in the skeletons...its no where mentioned in the passage that typhus is fatal.
avatar
shoonya
Joined: 06 Jul 2004
Last visit: 18 Mar 2008
Posts: 164
Own Kudos:
Location: united states
Posts: 164
Kudos: 1,047
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Q30. The ancient Nubians inhabited an area in which typhus occurs, yet surprisingly few of their skeletons show the usual evidence of this disease. The skeletons do show deposits of tetracycline, an antibiotic produced by a bacterium common in Nubian soil. This bacterium can flourish on the dried grain used for making two staples of the Nubian diet, beer and bread. Thus, tetracycline in their food probably explains the low incidence of typhus among ancient Nubians.

Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument relies?

A. Infectious diseases other than typhus to which the ancient Nubians were exposed are unaffected by tetracycline.
B. Tetracycline is not rendered ineffective as an antibiotic by exposure to the processes involved in making bread and beer.
C. Typhus cannot be transmitted by ingesting bread or beer contaminated with the infectious agents of this disease.
D. Bread and beer were the only items in the diet of the ancient Nubians which could have contained tetracycline.
E. Typhus is generally fatal.

Vineet, you are right. E is nowhere mentioned in the passage. But, that's why we are looking for an assumption. The first line says

"The ancient Nubians inhabited an area in which typhus occurs, yet surprisingly few of their skeletons show the usual evidence of this disease".

and the last one says

"Thus, tetracycline in their food probably explains the low incidence of typhus among ancient Nubians"

This clearly shows that the scientists assume that this disease was fatal, but still are surprised that only a few skeletons show the sign of the disease. They conclude that becuase pf tetracycline, only a few show signs of typhus. In other words, only a few contracted and died of typhus.
User avatar
vineetgupta
Joined: 29 Jul 2006
Last visit: 25 Jul 2009
Posts: 377
Own Kudos:
Posts: 377
Kudos: 1,375
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hi shoonya...E is too extreme...we cant say that typhus is fatal and caused the death...may be the people died because of another disease and could have typhus also...but not to the degree of fatality...
User avatar
nverma
Joined: 24 Jul 2009
Last visit: 13 Jun 2011
Posts: 155
Own Kudos:
526
 [2]
Posts: 155
Kudos: 526
 [2]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
zz0vlb
The ancient Nubians inhabited an area in which typhus accurs, yet surprisingly few of their skeletons show the usual evidence of this disease. The skeletons do show deposits of tetracycline, an antibiotic produced by a bacterium common in Numbian soil. This bacterium can flourish on the dried grain used for making two staples of Nubian diet, beer and bread. Thus , tertacycline in their food propably explains the low incidence of typhus amoung ancient Numbians.

Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument relies?

A. Infectious diseases other than typhus to which the ancient Numbians were exposed are unaffected by tetracycline.>>> Out of scope >> Argument is talking about Typhus and tetracycline.
B. Tetracycline is not rendered ineffective as an antibiotic by exposure to the process involved in making bread and beer.>>> CORRECT >>> argument talks about "less amount of typhus" due to "presence of tetracycline "
C. Typhus cannot be transmitted by ingesting bread or beer contaminated with the infectious agents of this disease.>>> Even if the typhus is transmitted, this is no reason to find NO typhus on the skeleton..!!
D. Bread and beer were the only items in the diet of the ancients Numbians which could have contained tetracycline. >>> Even if there were more items, there is no effect on the argument which talks about "less amount of typhus" due to "presence of tetracycline "
E.Typhus is generally fatal. >>> Out of scope
avatar
mysterio
Joined: 28 Feb 2011
Last visit: 04 May 2021
Posts: 29
Own Kudos:
73
 [1]
Given Kudos: 18
Posts: 29
Kudos: 73
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
dvtohir
Guys,
Q30. The ancient Nubians inhabited an area in which typhus occurs, yet surprisingly few of their skeletons show the usual evidence of this disease. The skeletons do show deposits of tetracycline, an antibiotic produced by a bacterium common in Nubian soil. This bacterium can flourish on the dried grain used for making two staples of the Nubian diet, beer and bread. Thus, tetracycline in their food probably explains the low incidence of typhus among ancient Nubians.

Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument relies?
A. Infectious diseases other than typhus to which the ancient Nubians were exposed are unaffected by tetracycline.
B. Tetracycline is not rendered ineffective as an antibiotic by exposure to the processes involved in making bread and beer.
C. Typhus cannot be transmitted by ingesting bread or beer contaminated with the infectious agents of this disease.
D. Bread and beer were the only items in the diet of the ancient Nubians which could have contained tetracycline.
E. Typhus is generally fatal.


premise : few of Nubian skeletons show the usual evidence of typhus disease despite living in an area where thyphus occur

premise : skeletons do show deposits of tetracycline, an antibiotic produced by a bacteria
premise : This bacterium can flourish on the dried grain used for making two staples of the Nubian diet, beer and bread.

conclusion : tetracycline in their food probably explains the low incidence of typhus.

A. Infectious diseases other than typhus to which the ancient Nubians were exposed are unaffected by tetracycline. OUT OF SCOPE we are only considered abt typhus
B. Tetracycline is not rendered ineffective as an antibiotic by exposure to the processes involved in making bread and beer. if we negate this statement then conclusion falls apart. If teracycline is rendered ineffective then it would not prevent Thyhus and it could be the reason for low incidence. IMO correct answer
C. Typhus cannot be transmitted by ingesting bread or beer contaminated with the infectious agents of this disease. We are dealing with tetracycline preventing thypus, thus transmission of thyhus is irrelevent.
D. Bread and beer were the only items in the diet of the ancient Nubians which could have contained tetracycline. if we negate this statement : bread and beer were not the only item which contained tetracycline. tihs dosnot undermine the conclusion that tetracycline prevented thypus
E. Typhus is generally fatal out of scope
User avatar
TooLong150
Joined: 10 Mar 2013
Last visit: 07 Feb 2022
Posts: 135
Own Kudos:
526
 [2]
Given Kudos: 2,412
GMAT 1: 620 Q44 V31
GMAT 2: 610 Q47 V28
GMAT 3: 700 Q49 V36
GMAT 4: 690 Q48 V35
GMAT 5: 750 Q49 V42
GMAT 6: 730 Q50 V39
GPA: 3
Products:
GMAT 6: 730 Q50 V39
Posts: 135
Kudos: 526
 [2]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument relies?

A. Infectious diseases other than typhus to which the ancient Nubians were exposed are unaffected by tetracycline.

Wrong: Other diseases out of scope.

B. Tetracycline is not rendered ineffective as an antibiotic by exposure to the processes involved in making bread and beer.

Correct: Negating this kills the argument, because the negation shows that tetracycline could not be the reason fire the low incidence of typhus.

C. Typhus cannot be transmitted by ingesting bread or beer contaminated with the infectious agents of this disease.

Wrong (good trap):
Whether typhus could be transmitted does not affect whether tetracycline prevented incidences of typhus.

D. Bread and beer were the only items in the diet of the ancient Nubians which could have contained tetracycline.

Wrong (good trap):
How Nubians obtained tetracycline does not affect conclusion.

E. Typhus is generally fatal.

Wrong: Fatality of typhus does not affect conclusion.
User avatar
law258
Joined: 05 Sep 2016
Last visit: 11 Oct 2020
Posts: 261
Own Kudos:
112
 [1]
Given Kudos: 283
Status:DONE!
Posts: 261
Kudos: 112
 [1]
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
B is correct.

A. Infectious diseases other than typhus to which the ancient Nubians were exposed are unaffected by tetracycline. --> we don't care; our concern is typhus here

B. Tetracycline is not rendered ineffective as an antibiotic by exposure to the processes involved in making bread and beer. -->BINGO!!!; if this is wasn't true, then antibiotic wouldn't have gotten in Nubians' diet and the claim becomes invalid

C. Typhus cannot be transmitted by ingesting bread or beer contaminated with the infectious agents of this disease. --> we're more concerned with antibiotic here than the nature of the disease itself

D. Bread and beer were the only items in the diet of the ancient Nubians which could have contained tetracycline. --> great! doesn't help us

E. Typhus is generally fatal. --> background fact
User avatar
AashishGautam
Joined: 21 Apr 2018
Last visit: 09 Mar 2023
Posts: 41
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 14
Location: India
Schools: ISB '24 (A)
GMAT 1: 710 Q50 V36
GPA: 3.3
Schools: ISB '24 (A)
GMAT 1: 710 Q50 V36
Posts: 41
Kudos: 11
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
shoonya
Q30. The ancient Nubians inhabited an area in which typhus occurs, yet surprisingly few of their skeletons show the usual evidence of this disease. The skeletons do show deposits of tetracycline, an antibiotic produced by a bacterium common in Nubian soil. This bacterium can flourish on the dried grain used for making two staples of the Nubian diet, beer and bread. Thus, tetracycline in their food probably explains the low incidence of typhus among ancient Nubians.

Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument relies?

A. Infectious diseases other than typhus to which the ancient Nubians were exposed are unaffected by tetracycline.
B. Tetracycline is not rendered ineffective as an antibiotic by exposure to the processes involved in making bread and beer.
C. Typhus cannot be transmitted by ingesting bread or beer contaminated with the infectious agents of this disease.
D. Bread and beer were the only items in the diet of the ancient Nubians which could have contained tetracycline.
E. Typhus is generally fatal.

Guys, both B and E are compelling. I'm leaning more towards E. If Typhus is not fatal, one might not expect to find traces of this disease in the skeletons. So, E is the main assumption on which this whole argument is based. B is the secondary assumption (B could be true only if E is true).

comments are welcome.


Hi everyone, anyone with a similar line of reasoning check this.

Conclusion : tetracycline in their food probably explains the low incidence of typhus among ancient Nubians.

Premise : The ancient Nubians inhabited an area in which typhus occurs, yet surprisingly few of their skeletons show the usual evidence of this disease. The skeletons do show deposits of tetracycline, an antibiotic produced by a bacterium common in Nubian soil. This bacterium can flourish on the dried grain used for making two staples of the Nubian diet, beer and bread.

Now as per the explanation offered for E we can conclude that since typhus is fatal its incidence will be shown in the skeletons. But aren't we already given that....
their skeletons show the usual evidence of this disease this is non questionable since it is the part of the argument and there is no reason to doubt or bolster it.

As per the explanation offered by B, we can conclude that since tetracycline is not rendered ineffective as an antibiotic by exposure to the processes involved in making bread and beer, therefore tetracycline, an antibiotic produced by a bacterium common in Nubian soil that can flourish on the dried grain used for making two staples of the Nubian diet: beer and bread,
in their food probably explains the low incidence of typhus among ancient Nubians.
Hope this helps!
User avatar
VerbalBot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 01 Oct 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 18,446
Own Kudos:
Posts: 18,446
Kudos: 953
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hello from the GMAT Club VerbalBot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.
Moderators:
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
7353 posts
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
235 posts