In Europe, a favorite method of aiding science is to offer a prize for

Can someone please confirm the accuracy of the difficulty level. Seems to me like a 600-700 level problem but tag says otherwise (700+)

Getting back to the mail point. Here's my mind map and answers.

Para 1: Some practice in Europe is called objectionable --> Reasons for calling it objectionable are stated --> Some suggestions to improve the same are presented
Para 2: Discussion related to medals and medals used as an award is criticized --> Victoria Cross given as an example of good use of resources --> Honorary membership can be the other alternative


1. The author of the passage sets out to

A. Propose a method by which truly brilliant scientific work can be identified Identification of brilliant scientific work is not discussed
B. Criticize the use of rewards that have great intrinsic value That just captures the second para
C. Evaluate various ways in which scientific excellence can be achieved in a particular field The passage does not discuss ways to achieve scientific excellence
D. Discuss the disadvantages of awarding medals of high intrinsic value True, but just a part of the passage
E. Suggest a method of rewarding excellence in a scientific field Spot on. Captures the basic essence of both the paras. Can be confirmed from the mind map



2. All of the following can be inferred about the “Victoria Cross” EXCEPT:

A. It is an honorary medal It is given as an example of an honorary medal
B. It has almost no intrinsic value The passage clearly says "small intrinsic value". Although might not sound very convincing but we'll see a better option soon
C. It is often made of gold No where in the passage is it mentioned that it's made of gold. Moreover we are also told that it has "small intrinsic value" so it would definitely not be made of gold
D. It carries great honor among those who receive it First 4 lines of the second para give this hint
E. It is a good example of an award of excellence The entire purpose of giving this example was to present counter evidence for what is stated in teh first two lines of the second para



3. Which of the following can be inferred regarding a “favorite method of aiding science”?

A. It does not necessarily do much service in aiding the progress of science 2nd and 3rd line of the passage clearly say that "theoretically it is objectionable" which can be interpreted as not much service in aiding science
B. It helps promote the development of new and ground breaking scientific theories Not supported by the passage. Rather the author is suggesting other alternatives
C. The fact that the papers are presented anonymously is the only drawback of this method This is one of the drawback that is discussed but we cannot be certain that this is the ONLY drawback
D. It is an essential model that should be replicated in other nations to ensure scientific progress No where in the passage is the widespread use of this model suggested
E. Its contributions to the scientific community include only unwise expenditure and diversion of energy from untried fields Again just because these two contributions are discussed do not make them the ONLY two contributions

Hi Mahimab

Here's my explanation for the 3rd question

A. It does not necessarily do much service in aiding the progress of science 2nd and 3rd line of the passage clearly say that "theoretically it is objectionable" which can be interpreted as not much service in aiding science
B. It helps promote the development of new and ground breaking scientific theories Not supported by the passage. Rather the author is suggesting other alternatives
C. The fact that the papers are presented anonymously is the only drawback of this method This is one of the drawback that is discussed but we cannot be certain that this is the ONLY drawback
D. It is an essential model that should be replicated in other nations to ensure scientific progress No where in the passage is the widespread use of this model suggested
E. Its contributions to the scientific community include only unwise expenditure and diversion of energy from untried fields Again just because these two contributions are discussed do not make them the ONLY two contributions

1. The author of the passage sets out to

A. Propose a method by which truly brilliant scientific work can be identified
=> Purpose is not to identify instead to aid science by giving a prize for the best thesis

B. Criticize the use of rewards that have great intrinsic value
=> "The award of a medal, if of great intrinsic value" - Only part of the second para, mentioned once

C. Evaluate various ways in which scientific excellence can be achieved in a particular field
=> Not part of the passage

D. Discuss the disadvantages of awarding medals of high intrinsic value
=> "If made of gold, it would carry no greater honor, and would be more liable to be stolen, melted down or pawned" - Only part of the second para, mentioned once

E. Suggest a method of rewarding excellence in a scientific field
=> CORRECT. A method to give the prize to the best thesis (first para) and the award should be Honorary membership or Honorary degrees.

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2. All of the following can be inferred about the “Victoria Cross” EXCEPT:

A. It is an honorary medal
=> "The award of a medal" - Second para

B. It has almost no intrinsic value
=> "The award of a medal, if of great intrinsic value, would be an unwise expenditure. The Victoria Cross is an example of a successful foundation" - Second para

C. It is often made of gold
=> CORRECT. "If made of gold, it would carry no greater honor" - It says "if made with gold", not necessarily made of gold

D. It carries great honor among those who receive it
=> "The Victoria Cross is an example of a successful foundation, highly prized" - Highly prized suggests that it is a great honor

E. It is a good example of an award of excellence
=> "The Victoria Cross is an example of a successful foundation, highly prized" - This line suggests that it was a successful one

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3. Which of the following can be inferred regarding a “favorite method of aiding science”?

A. It does not necessarily do much service in aiding the progress of science
=> CORRECT. The passage suggests that it doesn't serve the purpose by using words such as "Objectionable", "Injury to science", etc

B. It helps promote the development of new and ground breaking scientific theories
=> New developments are not part of the passage

C. The fact that the papers are presented anonymously is the only drawback of this method
=> It is a drawback but author never inferred it is the only one

D. It is an essential model that should be replicated in other nations to ensure scientific progress
=> Passage doesn't infer anything about nation specifics

E. Its contributions to the scientific community include only unwise expenditure and diversion of energy from untried fields
=> It does include those but author never inferred those are the only ones