The symptoms that US president Zachary Taylor began showing five days

Question

The symptoms that US president Zachary Taylor began showing five days before his death are consistent with arsenic poisoning. Recent examinations of Taylorâ€™s bones, however, revealed levels of arsenic comparable to those found in the bones of Taylorâ€™s contemporaries. These levels are much lower than the levels of arsenic that remain in the bones of arsenic poisoning victims who live for more than a day after ingesting a lethal does of the poison.

Which of the following is most strongly supported by the statements given?

Which of the following is most strongly supported by the statements given?

(A) The symptoms that Taylor began showing five days before his death are consistent with poisoning other than arsenic poisoning

(B) Taylor's death was not the result of arsenic poisoning

(C) The symptoms that Taylor began showing five days before his death were not caused by a lethal dose of arsenic

(D) The symptoms that Taylor began showing five days before his death grew more severe each day

(E) It is unusual for a person who has ingested a lethal dose of arsenic to live for more than a day

gsr · Answer

I go with C

He showed symptoms of arsenic poisoning but the level of poison in his bones was much lower than in those who consumed a lethal dose.
So, he may have consumed arsenic but definitely not a lethal dose

GMATT73 · Answer

B is a trap answer. It goes way too far making such an extreme conclusion. Z. Taylor  could have  died from trace amounts of arsenic poisoning over a prolonged period of time.

My choice is C.

desiguy · Answer

Going with C. 

The last sentence helps us by asying that the levels are lower when compared to someone who has ingested a lethal dose.

automan · Answer

A, D and E are out.

Two evidences can be inferred from the passage:

1.The symptoms five days before his death were consistent with arsenic poisoning.
2.The president didn't die because of a  lethal dose of poison .

Therefore, between B and C I choose C. The fist evidence is not sound with B. If an evidence is that the symphoms are that arsenic poisining is very likely, the conclusion can not be that Taylor's death wasn't because of arsenic poisining. C is compatible with both evidences.

Therefore, the best answer is C.

kimmyg · Answer

OA is C.

Also from GMAT PREP (no explanation)

tarek99 · Answer

The symptoms that United States President Zachary Taylor began showing five days before his death are consistent with arsenic poisoning. Recent examination of Taylo's bones, however, revealed levels of arsenic comparable to those found in the bones of Taylor's contemporaries. These levels are much lower than the levels of arsenic that remain in the bones of arsenic poisoning victims who live for more than a day after ingesting a lethal dose of the poison.

Which of the following is most strongly supported by the statements given?

(A) The symptoms that Taylor began showing five days before his death are consistent with poisoning other than arsenic poisoning.

(B) Taylor's death was not the result of any kind of poisoning

(C) The symptoms that Taylor began showing five days before his death were not caused by a lethal dose of arsenic.

(D) The symptoms that Taylor began showing five days before his death grew more severe each day.

(E) It is unusual for a person who has ingested a lethal dose of arsenic to survive for more than a day

moni77 · Answer

I think C is the correct answer.

cstefanita · Answer

C

Victims of arsenic poisoning that live for more than one day will have high levels or arsenic in their bones. Zachary showed signes, lived for 5 more days, but levels of arsenic are low. 

a) Incorrect - we only know that they are consistent with arsenic poisoning, this could be one of many types of poisoning
b) Incorrect - It was not arsenic poisoning, could have very well been other type 
c) Correct - he lived for more than a day, so if it was arsenic, his levels should have been higher
d) Incorrect - out of scope, no indication that he got worse each day
e) Incorrect - last sentence indicates that this happens, not sure how often, but it does

tnguyen707 · Answer

I agree with C. The passage says that arsenic level found in Taylor's bones is consistent with his contemporaries and is much lower than the lethal dose. Thus, the Tylor's symtoms 5 days before death must not be of lethal dose of arsenic.

jimmyjamesdonkey · Answer

The symptoms that United States President Zachary Taylor began showing five days before his death are consistent with arsenic poisoning. Recent examination of Taylor's bones, however, revealed levels of arsenic comparable to those found in the bones of Taylor's contemporaries. These levels are much lower than the levels of arsenic that remain in the bones of arsenic poisoning victims who live for more than a day after ingesting a lethal dose of the poison.

Which of the following is most strongly supported by the statements given?

A) The symptoms that Taylor began showing five days before his death are consistent with poisoning other than arsenic poisoning

B) Taylor's death was not the result of any kind of poisioning

C) The symptoms that Taylor began showing five days before his death were not caused by a leath dose of arsenic.

D) The symptoms that Taylor began showing five days before his death grew more severe each day.

E) It is unusual for a person who has ingested a lethal dose of arsenic to survive more than a day.

x97agarwal · Answer

The symptoms that United States President Zachary Taylor began showing five days before his death are consistent with arsenic poisoning. Recent examination of Taylor's bones, however, revealed levels of arsenic comparable to those found in the bones of Taylor's contemporaries. These levels are much lower than the levels of arsenic that remain in the bones of arsenic poisoning victims who live for more than a day after ingesting a lethal dose of the poison.

A) The passage does not discuss any other tyoe of poisoning.

B) Too extrme

C) Answer - The poisoining could have built up over time as the level was consistent with the level foudn in other President's.

D) Not discussed in the passage
 
E) Not mentioned in the passage that a person can live for only one day after a lethal passage.

comebackkid · Answer

C - given lower levels than those found in victims of arsenic poisoning who live more than one day, Taylor's symptoms not likely result of a lethal dose of arsenic

billyjeans · Answer

C

it supports that it is caused by other poison, not arsenic.

vd · Answer

i think C is the clear winner 
what is the OA

linhshining · Answer

From my source, B is "Taylor's death was not the result of any kind of poisoning". So it becomes easier. I choose C.

nechets · Answer

Answer (c) is very controversial in my view. The fact that Zachary Taylor hasn't ingested a "lethal" dose of arsenic does not rule out arsenic poising. He might just got a smaller dose, but still got poised.

kimmyg

OA is C.

Also from GMAT PREP (no explanation)

msj1234567 · Answer

B or C.. 
bt B sounds very strong so C is the OA

miliya23 · Answer

My answer was "D". I am not able to understand the explanation.
"C" can be the answer, but why "D" is wrong.
Because of the lethal dose of arsenic, contemporaries can live for more than one day, and it means by having lethal dose they can live for five days also(because 5>1). US president is showing lower levels of poison before five days. Hence, he can live for days more than his contemporaries since level of poison is low in him. 
According to me, because level of poison is increasing everyday he died after 5days. If the level had been static, he would have lived more.

hwgmat2015 · Answer

Miliya23,

Its an inference type question and so its very important that we do not go outside the scope of given passage. No where in passage its given that his level of poisoning increased. So we cannot assume or deduce that.

option C talks about lethal dose of arsenic and its symptoms. This option is consistent with the conclusion given in the passage.

Hope that clears the doubt.

The symptoms that US president Zachary Taylor began showing five days

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The symptoms that US president Zachary Taylor began showing five days

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