The Pacific yew is an evergreen tree that grows in the Pacific Northwest. The Pacific yew has a fleshy, poisonous fruit. Recently, taxol, a substance found in the bark of the Pacific yew, was discovered to be a promising new anticancer drug.
Logical Reasoning
Verbal Reasoning
Difficulty: Easy
Choose an option
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ATaxol is poisonous when taken by healthy people.
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BTaxol has cured people from various diseases.
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CPeople should not eat the fruit of the Pacific yew.
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DThe Pacific yew was considered worthless until taxol was discovered.
Answer
Correct Answer: People should not eat the fruit of the Pacific yew.
Explanation
Given data
- Pacific yew is an evergreen in the Pacific Northwest.
- It has a fleshy, poisonous fruit.
- Taxol (from the bark) is a promising anticancer drug.
Concept/Approach
Pick the statement that follows necessarily from the facts provided, avoiding claims not supported by the passage.
Step-by-step reasoningFruit is poisonous ⇒ People should not eat it (safety inference is valid).No evidence that taxol is poisonous for healthy people (A) or that it has cured diseases (B).No statement that the tree was considered worthless before taxol (D).
Verification/Alternative
Only option (C) uses an immediate safety implication from 'poisonous fruit' without overreaching.
Common pitfalls
- Overgeneralizing the efficacy of taxol (promising ≠ proven cure).
- Inferring prior value judgments about the tree (not stated).
Final AnswerPeople should not eat the fruit of the Pacific yew.