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705-805 Level|   Assumption|      
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GmatStuck
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Only engineering is capable of analyzing the nature of a machine in 28 Feb 2025, 23:29
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C
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!

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95% (hard)

Question Stats:

49% (02:14) correct 51% (02:13) wrong based on 362 sessions

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Only engineering is capable of analyzing the nature of a machine in terms of the successful working of the whole; physics and chemistry determine the material conditions necessary for this success, but cannot express the notion of purpose. Similarly, only physiology can analyze the nature of an organism in terms of organs' roles in the body's healthy functioning. Physics and chemistry cannot ascertain by themselves any of these operational principles.

Which one of the following is an assumption required by the analogy?

(A) The functioning of the human organism is machine-like in nature.

(B) Physics and chemistry determine the material conditions required for good physiological functioning.

(C) The notion of purpose used by engineers to judge the success of machinery has an analog in organisms.

(D) Physiology as a science is largely independent of physics and chemistry.

(E) Biological processes are irreducible to mechanical or chemical processes.
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C
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RC11mileage
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Only engineering is capable of analyzing the nature of a machine in 02 Mar 2025, 04:00
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Let me give my 2 cents.

There are 2 'right looking' answers : A vs C

A talks about 'functioning'
C talks about 'purpose'

The underlying theme of the para is 'purpose' and not functioning. Hence, C is the better choice.
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vibhorrokstar19
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Only engineering is capable of analyzing the nature of a machine in 25 May 2025, 02:13
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Hey Bunuel, can you give the solution for this question!
thanks in advance.
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Yosemite98
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Only engineering is capable of analyzing the nature of a machine in 31 May 2025, 08:55
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GmatStuck
Only engineering is capable of analyzing the nature of a machine in terms of the successful working of the whole; physics and chemistry determine the material conditions necessary for this success, but cannot express the notion of purpose. Similarly, only physiology can analyze the nature of an organism in terms of organs' roles in the body's healthy functioning. Physics and chemistry cannot ascertain by themselves any of these operational principles.

Which one of the following is an assumption required by the analogy?

(A) The functioning of the human organism is machine-like in nature.

(B) Physics and chemistry determine the material conditions required for good physiological functioning.

(C) The notion of purpose used by engineers to judge the success of machinery has an analog in organisms.

(D) Physiology as a science is largely independent of physics and chemistry.

(E) Biological processes are irreducible to mechanical or chemical processes.
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We’re given an analogy that compares engineering vs. physics/chemistry with physiology vs. physics/chemistry. The key point is that only engineering and physiology can account for purpose or function in a system, whereas physics and chemistry only describe material conditions, not goal-directed behavior.
[hr]
Core Argument:
  • Engineering analyzes machines in terms of successful functioning or purpose.
  • Physics and chemistry only describe the material conditions for success, not purpose.
  • Physiology does the same for organisms — analyzes them in terms of how organs contribute to healthy functioning.
  • Physics and chemistry can't account for purpose or operational principles in organisms either.
So the analogy draws a parallel:
Quote:
Engineering : Machines :: Physiology : Organisms
Show more
And says:
Quote:
Physics/Chemistry are limited to material analysis and cannot capture purpose in either case.
Show more
Question: What is an assumption required for this analogy?
Let’s evaluate each choice.

(A) The functioning of the human organism is machine-like in nature.
This would help the analogy, but it’s not required. The analogy doesn’t need the organism to be like a machine — it only needs that both can be analyzed in terms of purpose by physiology/engineering respectively. The comparison is functional, not metaphysical.
Not required.

(B) Physics and chemistry determine the material conditions required for good physiological functioning.
This is stated in the passage: physics and chemistry provide material conditions, but not purpose. This is not an assumption; it's part of the explicit content.
Not an assumption — it's part of the premise.

(C) The notion of purpose used by engineers to judge the success of machinery has an analog in organisms.
This bridges the analogy — if you're comparing the idea of purpose in machines (engineering) and purpose in organisms (physiology), you're assuming that "purpose" makes sense in both contexts.
If there were no analog of "purpose" in organisms (as there is in machines), the analogy falls apart.
This is necessary for the analogy to hold. This is the correct assumption.

(D) Physiology as a science is largely independent of physics and chemistry.
The passage says that physics and chemistry alone cannot express purpose, but it doesn’t claim that physiology is independent of them. Physiology may well use physics and chemistry — it just goes beyond them.
Too strong — not required.

(E) Biological processes are irreducible to mechanical or chemical processes.
This is similar to D. The passage says purpose can’t be captured by physics/chemistry alone — but not that all biological processes are irreducible. That would be a stronger claim.
Not required, and too broad.
[hr]
Final Answer:
(C) The notion of purpose used by engineers to judge the success of machinery has an analog in organisms.
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