Read the prose extract below carefully:
"The apothecary closed the iron-bound chest without touching the blue vials on the upper shelf. He handed the captain's courier a small linen pouch filled only with crushed willow bark, avoiding the messenger's eyes while accepting the heavy pouch of gold. 'Tell your master this will abate the fever before dawn,' he whispered, hastily snuffing out the tallow lamp before the courier had crossed the threshold."
What can be deduced about the apothecary's conduct from the extract above?
- He provides a routine herbal mixture while withholding the more effective treatment despite collecting substantial payment.Answer
- BHe is unaware of the healing properties of the remedies stored on the upper shelf of his chest.
- CHe has administered a toxic substance to harm the captain intentionally.
- DHe extinguished the lamp to conceal the physical theft of the courier's gold.
Answer
The apothecary provides a routine herbal mixture while withholding the more effective treatment despite collecting substantial payment.
The text highlights specific gestures—ignoring the upper shelf blue vials, avoiding eye contact, taking a heavy pouch of gold for common willow bark, and blowing out the lamp in haste—which together deduce that the apothecary is acting deceitfully by charging excessively for an ordinary remedy while keeping the premium or effective medicine back.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Drawing logical inferences from implicit textual evidence in prose extracts