Although exposure to asbestos is the primary cause of mesothelioma, a slow-developing cancer, researches believe that infection by the SV40 virus is a contributing cause, since in the United States 60 percent of tissue samples from mesotheliomas, but none from healthy tissue, contain SV40. SV40 is a monkey virus; however, in 1960 some polio vaccine was contaminated with the virus. Reseachers hypothesize that this vaccine was the source of the virus found in mesotheliomas decades later.
Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the researchers' hypothesis?
(A) SV40 is widely used as a research tool in cancer laboratories.
(B) Changes in the technique of manufacturing the vaccine now prevent contamination with SV40.
(C) Recently discovered samples of the vaccine dating from 1960 still show traces of the virus.
(D) In a small percentage of cases of mesothelioma, there is no history of exposure to asbestos.
(E) In Finland, where the polio vaccine was never contaminated, samples from mesotheliomas do not contain SV40.
OA E
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Although exposure to asbestos is the primary cause of mesothelioma, a slow-developing cancer, researches believe that
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Premise: The researchers' hypothesis, in this case, is that the polio vaccine was the source of the virus found in mesothelioma decades later.
Option A - Incorrect:
This answer choice is too general, as it considers SV40 as a research tool widely used in cancel laboratories. SV40 is a monkey virus and it was also responsible for the contamination of the polio vaccine (which is not cancer).
Option B - Incorrect:
The passage tells us only about what contaminated some of the vaccines in 1960. So, this answer choice does not mention anything related to that.
Option C - Incorrect:
This answer choice doesn't provide enough direct information. We do not know from the passage whether recently discovered samples of the vaccines have traces of SV40 virus or not.
Option D - Incorrect:
It's stated in the passage that exposure to asbestos is the primary cause of mesothelioma; so, this answer choice is not sufficient enough to backup the researchers' hypothesis.
Option E - correct:
In line with the passage, this claim is true as contaminated vaccines by the SV40 virus were the cause of the mesothelioma samples containing SV40.
Option A - Incorrect:
This answer choice is too general, as it considers SV40 as a research tool widely used in cancel laboratories. SV40 is a monkey virus and it was also responsible for the contamination of the polio vaccine (which is not cancer).
Option B - Incorrect:
The passage tells us only about what contaminated some of the vaccines in 1960. So, this answer choice does not mention anything related to that.
Option C - Incorrect:
This answer choice doesn't provide enough direct information. We do not know from the passage whether recently discovered samples of the vaccines have traces of SV40 virus or not.
Option D - Incorrect:
It's stated in the passage that exposure to asbestos is the primary cause of mesothelioma; so, this answer choice is not sufficient enough to backup the researchers' hypothesis.
Option E - correct:
In line with the passage, this claim is true as contaminated vaccines by the SV40 virus were the cause of the mesothelioma samples containing SV40.
