Mary Shelleys 1818 classic Frankenstein has been the most-taught novel

Mary Shelleys 1818 classic Frankenstein has been the most-taught novel on college campuses in the country for the past 10 years. This is due primarily to the worries about scientific responsibility brought on by the recent surge of advances in science and technology, especially biotechnology.
Which of the following statements, if true, would be most helpful in evaluating this argument?

Being most-taught novel for 10 years makes Mary Shelleys’s 1818 classic Frankenstein important for something worth that colleges find too good to resist. Argument reasons that it’s because colleges believe that there should be a scientific responsibility which becomes more accountable now-a-days due to recent advances in science and technology particularly biotechnology.

A. Frankenstein is considered the first science-fiction novel. – WRONG. Irrelevant since it does help explain why colleges prefer to teach the novel.
B. Most people who have not read the novel mistakenly assume that Frankenstein is the monster, not the scientist who created the monster. – WRONG. Again irrelevant.
C. In the novel, Victor Frankenstein creates a monster and then abandons it, refusing to take responsibility for his creation. – WRONG. Does not explain whether the creation was good rather it goes in opposite direction – something which colleges won’t prefer to teach.
D. In the novel, Frankenstein’s creature causes a great deal of destruction because he is constantly rejected by others. – CORRECT. Because argument talks about responsibility, showing that scientific creations especially in the field of biotechnology must be for good causes instead of something that causes a great deal of destruction would impart inclination towards sane work.
E. Most Americans are opposed to cloning human beings. – WRONG. Irrelevant since it does not matter what Americans think.

Answer (D).

ARGUMENT: Frankenstein has been most-taught novel for 10 years, [premise] because of worries about responsibility from advances in science; [asum] assumes that the novel taught is related to sci responsibility; evaluate why this is.

(A) doesnt help evaluate y it is taught or related to sci respon;
(B) doesnt help evaluate y it is taught or related to sci respon;
(D) doesnt help evaluate y it is taught or related to sci respon;
(E) doesnt help evaluate y it is taught or related to sci respon;

Answer (C): this links the novel to worries about sci respon.

It's required to evaluate the reasoning for popularity of the novel on college campuses in the country for the past 10 years.

A. Frankenstein is considered the first science-fiction novel. - Irrelevant.
B. Most people who have not read the novel mistakenly assume that Frankenstein is the monster, not the scientist who created the monster. - Irrelevant.
C. In the novel, Victor Frankenstein creates a monster and then abandons it, refusing to take responsibility for his creation. - Seems relevant to the reasoning of the author.
D. In the novel, Frankenstein’s creature causes a great deal of destruction because he is constantly rejected by others. - Irrelevant because of logic of rejection of Frankenstein by others.
E. Most Americans are opposed to cloning human beings. - Irrelevant.

Official Explanation

Correct Answer: C

The fact that Dr. Frankenstein brings a creature to life but then abandons that creature, refusing to take responsibility for his creation, tells us that one of Frankensteins main themes is scientific responsibility.

This would help explain why college professors concerned about scientific responsibility would choose this book. The other choices may be interesting and informative, but they do not help you evaluate the argument because they do not provide information that enables you to ascertain the relevance of the conclusion.

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