Historian: We can learn about the medical history of individuals through chemical analysis of their hair. It is likely, for example, that Isaac Newton’s psychological problems were due to mercury poisoning; traces of mercury were found in his hair. Analysis is now being done on a lock of Beethoven’s hair. Although no convincing argument has shown that Beethoven ever had a venereal disease, some people hypothesize that venereal disease caused his deafness. Since mercury was commonly ingested in Beethoven’s time to treat venereal disease, if researchers find a trace of mercury in his hair, we can conclude that this hypothesis is correct.
Which one of the following is an assumption on which the historian’s argument depends?
(A) None of the mercury introduced into the body can be eliminated.
(B) Some people in Beethoven’s time did not ingest mercury.
(C) Mercury is an effective treatment for venereal disease.
(D) Mercury poisoning can cause deafness in people with venereal disease.
(E) Beethoven suffered from psychological problems of the same severity as Newton’s.
看了答案我貌似明白了B为什么对了，可是还是不明白C为什么不对。答案说C is not necessary, since "mercury was commonly ingested in Beethoven's time to treat VD is enough." 还是不太明白。哪位高人帮我解释一下啊。作者: queenie924 时间: 2011-3-3 20:01
C has no impact on the argment, since in the stimulus we already know that Mercury was commonly ingested in Beethoven's time to treat veneral diseases. Whether this treatment has any effect has no bearing on the validity of the arugment.作者: yidiyuehans 时间: 2011-3-4 06:39
恍然大悟！多谢高人！作者: acrophobia 时间: 2011-3-4 21:34
Mercury can treat venereal disease, venereal disease can result deaf , we can conclude that Mercury result deaf
so people in Beethoven’s time did not ingest mercury, B is the assumption
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