Senator Woods: The government's funding program for the sciences is intended to encourage the creation of works of scientific excellence. However, a government-funded science program can never reflect the scientific conscience of the scientist because scientists, like anyone else who accepts financial support, will inevitably try to please those who control the distribution of that support. Thus, government funding of the sciences is not only a waste of taxpayers‖ money, but it also cannot lead to the creation of works of true scientific excellence.
Which one of the following is an assumption on which Senator Wood’s argument is based?
(A) Once a scientist has produced works of true scientific excellence, he or she will never accept government funding.
(B) A work of science that does not reflect the scientific conscience of the scientist cannot be a work of true scientific excellence.
(C) Distribution of government funds for the sciences is based on a broad agreement as to what constitutes scientific excellence.
(D)Many taxpayers are concerned about the purposes for which their tax money is utilized.
(E)The government bodies that control scientific funding will discourage scientists from abiding by their scientific conscience.
The argument states that if funded by the government, true scientific excellence cannot happen. This is stated because funding reduces the amount of scientific conscience reflected in the work of the scientist. Therefore, the author assumes that scientific conscience is required to produce a work of true scientific excellence.
(A) This is not supported by the argument. Eliminate
(B) On negation, this answer choice breaks the argument: A work of science that does not reflect the scientific conscience of the scientist can be the work of true scientific excellence. If the above sentence holds true, works of true excellence can be created, and funding is not wasted. Therefore, this is the correct answer.
(C) This is a vague answer choice that does not specify the terms of the agreement. Negation does not break the argument. Eliminate
(D) This is a broad statement how many is many' Secondly, it does not matter whether taxpayers are concerned about how their tax money is utilized even if they are not concerned, it could still be a waste of tax money. Eliminate
(E) This is an extreme answer choice.
It is stated in the premise that - “scientists, like anyone else who accepts financial support, will inevitably try to please those who control the distribution of that support”
Even if the government bodies do not discourage scientists from abiding by their conscience, the scientists may themselves feel obliged to the financial supporter. Eliminate