During the past 20 years, computer scientists focused increasingly on

Question

Competition Mode Question

During the past 20 years, computer scientists focused increasingly on starting and running successful businesses. However, since businesses must be profitable, computer scientists must focus on developing products that generate profit. Consequently, computer science has lost its creative aspect.

Which of the following assumptions is most necessary in order for the conclusion above to be drawn from the argument above?

(A) All computer programs must lack creativity in order to be well received.
(B) Some computer scientists entirely disregarded creativity and chose instead to pursue profit.
(C) A program cannot be both creative and profitable.
(D) Computer scientists are obsessed with the profitability of their work.
(E) Non-profit institutions use large amounts of software.

madgmat2019 · Answer

During the past 20 years, computer scientists focused increasingly on starting and running successful businesses. However, since businesses must be profitable, computer scientists must focus on developing products that generate profit. Consequently, computer science has lost its creative aspect..............states that only one of profitability or creativity is possible,.......if concentrates on one, the other is lost .........so both at a time is not possible

(C) A program cannot be both creative and profitable..........CORRECT

(C) A program cannot be both creative and profitable..........CORRECT

CareerGeek · Answer

Argument: Any product that can generate profit, cannot be creative
--> Creativity and Profit cannot coexist

IMO Option C

suchithra · Answer

Given : Computer scientists are focusing on successful business and since business should be profitable, they are increasingly focusing on profit . Thefore computer scientist

Pre-thinking : Business that focus on profit do not involve any creativity.

Answer choice C & B are the only relevant options.

B on negation yields
All computer scientists entirely disregarded creativity and chose instead to pursue profit.
This doesnt break the conclusion.

C on negation yields
A program can be both creative and profitable.
This breaks the conclusion

Therefore C is the right answer

eakabuah · Answer

The best answer is option C.

Premise 1: During the past 20 years, computer scientists focused increasingly on starting and running successful businesses.
Counter-Premise: However, since businesses must be profitable, computer scientists must focus on developing products that generate profit.
Conclusion: Consequently, computer science has lost its creative aspect.

From the argument above, it has been concluded that computer science has lost its creative aspect. A weakener of this argument is that   some  aspects of computer science or computer programs can be both profitable and creative . When you negative this weakener, you get   no  aspect of computer science or computer programs can be both profitable and creative.  The assumption for this argument must be one that categorically states that  no aspect of computer science or computer programs can be both profitable and creative.

Option C states that a program cannot be both creative and profitable, and this is in line with the above. The best answer must, therefore, be option C.

Why not option B? B states that  some  computer scientists entirely disregarded creativity and chose instead to pursue profit.  Some  means from one computer scientist to all computer scientists. So what about if it is only 20% of computer scientists that entirely disregarded creativity and chose instead to pursue profit? What if the other 80% develop programs aimed only at creativity alone? This argument will still not hold water in such a circumstance. Hence B is not a necessary assumption on which the argument depends.

Archit3110 · Answer

conclusion ;since businesses must be profitable, computer scientists must focus on developing products that generate profit. Consequently, computer science has lost its creative aspect.

IMO C: A program cannot be both creative and profitable.

use negation test ; A program can be both creative and profitable.
Option C is correct

During the past 20 years, computer scientists focused increasingly on starting and running successful businesses. However, since businesses must be profitable, computer scientists must focus on developing products that generate profit. Consequently, computer science has lost its creative aspect.

Which of the following assumptions is most necessary in order for the conclusion above to be drawn from the argument above?

(A) All computer programs must lack creativity in order to be well received.
(B) Some computer scientists entirely disregarded creativity and chose instead to pursue profit.
(C) A program cannot be both creative and profitable.
(D) Computer scientists are obsessed with the profitability of their work.
(E) Non-profit institutions use large amounts of software.

chaitralirr · Answer

Stimulus states- that computer science is focussed on starting and running businesses since last 20 years. Since businesses focus on profit. The author also concludes that creativity is lost.

IMO C... If we use the negation test in C the conclusion collapses.

A business which is profitable cannot be creative

Posted from my mobile device

Bunuel · Answer

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

The argument’s conclusion is: "computer science has lost its creative aspect"

The argument draws the false dichotomy that the writing of profitable programs requires forgoing the writing of creative applications. In other words, it assumes that profitable and creative programs are mutually exclusive. Further, it assumes that all computer scientists are pursuing writing profitable programs.

A. There is a difference between being well received and being profitable. The argument assumes that only non-creative programs can be profitable. However, this does not mean creative programs will not be well-received. It just means they will not be profitable.

B. Even if some computer scientists disregarded creativity, we cannot (as the original argument and this answer do) assume that creativity and profit are mutually exclusive.

C. This answer identifies a crucial assumption in the original argument. If writing creative and profitable programs were not mutually exclusive, then one could write profitable programs without "computer science   lost its creative aspect."

D. The extent to which a computer scientist is obsessed with the profitability of his work has no influence on whether profitability drives away creativity (as the original argument assumes).

E. The users of software have influence on whether software can be both profitable and creative.

VerbalBot · Answer

Hello from the GMAT Club VerbalBot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.

During the past 20 years, computer scientists focused increasingly on

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards

GMAT Critical Reasoning (CR) Questions

During the past 20 years, computer scientists focused increasingly on

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards