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Prevailing scholarly opinion holds that modern science began... 07 Sep 2020, 08:16
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okay



Thus, (A) is a tempting trap, but (D) is the best answer.

Does this make sense?
Mike :-)

hi Mike - could you please share how we can possibly eliminate A for sure? i selected A as i thought it was well supported by the excerpt "The one important ingredient of modern science that was missing prior to the sixteenth century was the widespread use of experiments" - without the "full" set of ingredients, modern science was previously "incomplete". thanks!
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Hi ecyhats,

Please refer to the below links for Question 3:
https://gmatclub.com/forum/prevailing-s ... l#p1911980
https://gmatclub.com/forum/prevailing-s ... l#p2278205

Let me know if you still have doubts.

Thanks.
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Prevailing scholarly opinion holds that modern science began... 14 Mar 2021, 06:49
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bm2201


Please refer to the below links for Question 3:
https://gmatclub.com/forum/prevailing-s ... l#p1911980
https://gmatclub.com/forum/prevailing-s ... l#p2278205

Let me know if you still have doubts.

Thanks.
Show more



Hi bm2201

I still have doubts.

Quote:
3. It can be inferred from the passage that the author would be most likely to agree with which of the following statements concerning modern science?

(A) The use of experiments is the crucial factor enabling scientists to engage in what can properly be described as modern science.
(D) The origins of modern science can be traced back to the articulation of a particular approach to the study of nature.
Show more

I am little confused between A and D

Why I selected D
one important ingredient of modern science that was missing prior to the sixteenth century was the widespread use of experiments, and the scientific revolution of the sixteenth century began when scientists started to use experiments to discover new answers to questions that had already been pondered for several centuries.

crucial factor== one important ingredient ( it clearly means one among others)
enabling scientists to engage == when scientists [color=#00a651]started to use experiments -- experiments happened in 16th and 17th


Why I rejected A:
modern science should be identified with a particular way of approaching the study of nature, and many important elements of this approach were already in place and articulated as early as the fourteenth century.
Option says Can Be but in passage author says should be . By using can instead of should, it doesn't mean It can be .


What is your thought to reject A and select D.

Please comment AjiteshArun VeritasKarishma GMATNinja

Thanks!
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Prevailing scholarly opinion holds that modern science began... 14 Mar 2021, 22:23
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bm2201


Please refer to the below links for Question 3:
https://gmatclub.com/forum/prevailing-s ... l#p1911980
https://gmatclub.com/forum/prevailing-s ... l#p2278205

Let me know if you still have doubts.

Thanks.



Hi bm2201

I still have doubts.

Quote:
3. It can be inferred from the passage that the author would be most likely to agree with which of the following statements concerning modern science?

(A) The use of experiments is the crucial factor enabling scientists to engage in what can properly be described as modern science.
(D) The origins of modern science can be traced back to the articulation of a particular approach to the study of nature.

I am little confused between A and D

Why I selected D
one important ingredient of modern science that was missing prior to the sixteenth century was the widespread use of experiments, and the scientific revolution of the sixteenth century began when scientists started to use experiments to discover new answers to questions that had already been pondered for several centuries.

crucial factor== one important ingredient ( it clearly means one among others)
enabling scientists to engage == when scientists [color=#00a651]started to use experiments -- experiments happened in 16th and 17th


Why I rejected A:
modern science should be identified with a particular way of approaching the study of nature, and many important elements of this approach were already in place and articulated as early as the fourteenth century.
Option says Can Be but in passage author says should be . By using can instead of should, it doesn't mean It can be .


What is your thought to reject A and select D.

Please comment AjiteshArun VeritasKarishma GMATNinja

Thanks!
Show more

The passage states:
"modern science should be identified with a particular way of approaching the study of nature, and many important elements of this approach were already in place and articulated as early as the fourteenth century."

The author believes that modern science should be identified with a particular approach to the study of nature.
Hence (D) is correct.


(A) The use of experiments is the crucial factor enabling scientists to engage in what can properly be described as modern science.

The author describes "modern science" as above. He says modern science originated as early as 14th century.
He says that one important ingredient that was missing was "use of experiments". But is it THE crucial factor that describes "modern science"? No. He says that modern science should be identified with a particular approach to the study of nature. According to him modern science started in 14th century.
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Prevailing scholarly opinion holds that modern science began... 04 May 2021, 09:34
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DensetsuNo
Prevailing scholarly opinion holds that modern science began with the great achievements of the scientific revolution of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Modern science should not, however, be identified with any particular set of scientific achievements. Rather, modern science should be identified with a particular way of approaching the study of nature, and many important elements of this approach were already in place and articulated as early as the fourteenth century. Jean Buridan, a prominent fourteenth-century Parisian scholar, argued that science is predicated on the assumption of the “common course of nature” This profound assumption represented a major shift in scholarly focus from the theological investigation of the uncommon or miraculous to the attempted explanation of the regular structure and operation of the world in purely rational and secular terms. Buridan also advocated the application of Occam’s razor, the principle that science should seek the simplest possible explanation that fits the evidence. The one important ingredient of modern science that was missing prior to the sixteenth century was the widespread use of experiments, and the scientific revolution of the sixteenth century began when scientists started to use experiments to discover new answers to questions that had already been pondered for several centuries.

1. The primary purpose of the passage is to

(A) qualify an established scholarly viewpoint regarding a certain issue
(B) summarize prevailing scholarly opinion regarding a certain issue
(C) delineate the historical events that led to a change in scholarly opinion
(D) reconcile conflicting viewpoints in a debate
(E) recommend further inquiry into a particular topic
Show Spoiler
A



2. According to the passage, which of the following constitutes prevailing scholarly opinion regarding the beginning of modern science?

(A) Many important elements of the modern approach to science were already in place in the fourteenth century
(B) The development of modern science was initiated by the pioneering work of Jean Buridan
(C) Modern science began with the widespread application of the principle of Occam's razor.
(D) Modern science began with a shift in focus from investigation of the miraculous to investigation of the regular operation of the world
(E) Modern science began with certain major achievements made during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries

Show Spoiler
E



3. It can be inferred from the passage that the author would be most likely to agree with which of the following statements concerning modern science?

(A) The use of experiments is the crucial factor enabling scientists to engage in what can properly be described as modern science.
(B) A certain set of scientific achievements had to be accomplished before scientists could engage in modern science.
(C) The scientific revolution of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries marks the beginning of what should be considered modern science.
(D) The origins of modern science can be traced back to the articulation of a particular approach to the study of nature.
(E) Any scientific experiments conducted before the sixteenth century were unlikely to reflect a focus on modern science

Show Spoiler
D

Show more

Hi GMATNinja, Answer D makes a lot of sense to me, but I haven't been able to understand why option A is wrong. I have read all the other posts concerning question 3, but I don't find their answers to my question very convincing.
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Prevailing scholarly opinion holds that modern science began... 06 May 2021, 04:27
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Please explain Why B is wrong for Q1/
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Prevailing scholarly opinion holds that modern science began... 06 May 2021, 05:10
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Please explain Why B is wrong for Q1/
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Quote:
(B) summarize prevailing scholarly opinion regarding a certain issue
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B is not a good choice because in this passage authour gives his opinion.

sectio1:
Prevailing scholarly opinion holds that modern science began with the great achievements of the scientific revolution of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. --scholar opinion
Modern science should not, however, be identified with any particular set of scientific achievements. Rather, modern science should be identified with a particular way of approaching the study of nature, and many important elements of this approach were already in place and articulated as early as the fourteenth century. --author opinion

section2:
Jean Buridan, a prominent fourteenth-century Parisian scholar, argued that science is predicated on the assumption of the “common course of nature” --scholar opinion
This profound assumption represented a major shift in scholarly focus from the theological investigation of the uncommon or miraculous to the attempted explanation of the regular structure and operation of the world in purely rational and secular terms. --author opinion

section3:
Buridan also advocated the application of Occam’s razor, the principle that science should seek the simplest possible explanation that fits the evidence. --scholar comments
The one important ingredient of modern science that was missing prior to the sixteenth century was the widespread use of experiments, and the scientific revolution of the sixteenth century began when scientists started to use experiments to discover new answers to questions that had already been pondered for several centuries.--author remarks

With this thought, it is very clear that there is no summary of scholar opinion

But this passage talks more of author opinion on scholar's comments/remarks

If you focus on section1 , it builds the theme of passage. Scholars say something but author doesn't agree with this . Section 2 and section3 explains more about this certain issue mentioned in section 1 (regarding began of modern science.)

You will find A among all other options most close to theme of this passage.

I hope it helps.
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Prevailing scholarly opinion holds that modern science began... 06 May 2021, 05:20
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DensetsuNo
Prevailing scholarly opinion holds that modern science began with the great achievements of the scientific revolution of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Modern science should not, however, be identified with any particular set of scientific achievements. Rather, modern science should be identified with a particular way of approaching the study of nature, and many important elements of this approach were already in place and articulated as early as the fourteenth century. Jean Buridan, a prominent fourteenth-century Parisian scholar, argued that science is predicated on the assumption of the “common course of nature” This profound assumption represented a major shift in scholarly focus from the theological investigation of the uncommon or miraculous to the attempted explanation of the regular structure and operation of the world in purely rational and secular terms. Buridan also advocated the application of Occam’s razor, the principle that science should seek the simplest possible explanation that fits the evidence. The one important ingredient of modern science that was missing prior to the sixteenth century was the widespread use of experiments, and the scientific revolution of the sixteenth century began when scientists started to use experiments to discover new answers to questions that had already been pondered for several centuries.

1. The primary purpose of the passage is to

(A) qualify an established scholarly viewpoint regarding a certain issue
(B) summarize prevailing scholarly opinion regarding a certain issue
(C) delineate the historical events that led to a change in scholarly opinion
(D) reconcile conflicting viewpoints in a debate
(E) recommend further inquiry into a particular topic
Show Spoiler
A



2. According to the passage, which of the following constitutes prevailing scholarly opinion regarding the beginning of modern science?

(A) Many important elements of the modern approach to science were already in place in the fourteenth century
(B) The development of modern science was initiated by the pioneering work of Jean Buridan
(C) Modern science began with the widespread application of the principle of Occam's razor.
(D) Modern science began with a shift in focus from investigation of the miraculous to investigation of the regular operation of the world
(E) Modern science began with certain major achievements made during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries

Show Spoiler
E



3. It can be inferred from the passage that the author would be most likely to agree with which of the following statements concerning modern science?

(A) The use of experiments is the crucial factor enabling scientists to engage in what can properly be described as modern science.
(B) A certain set of scientific achievements had to be accomplished before scientists could engage in modern science.
(C) The scientific revolution of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries marks the beginning of what should be considered modern science.
(D) The origins of modern science can be traced back to the articulation of a particular approach to the study of nature.
(E) Any scientific experiments conducted before the sixteenth century were unlikely to reflect a focus on modern science

Show Spoiler
D


Hi GMATNinja, Answer D makes a lot of sense to me, but I haven't been able to understand why option A is wrong. I have read all the other posts concerning question 3, but I don't find their answers to my question very convincing.
Show more


I did the same mistake last time in selecting A.
But after expert reply, i was clear why A is wrong.

Read again A

(A) The use of experiments is the crucial factor enabling scientists to engage in what can properly be described as modern science.
Green part is right
the problem is in the red part

want to think for a moment?

Ok welcome back. Hope you have thought yourself by now.
You can verify your thought now:

What is question:3. It can be inferred from the passage that the author would be most likely to agree with which of the following statements concerning modern science?
So we need to give author is most likely to agree?
1. the scientific revolution of the sixteenth century began when scientists started to use experiment--so it doesn't mean with experiments , it can be properly regarded as modern science.
2. modern science should be identified with a particular way of approaching the study of nature-- author doesn't believe experiments are called as modern science.

In summary, author says modern science means particular way of approaching the study of nature but not as experiments . Experiments were something missing links in modern science but not as modern science.

Its good that you have no doubt in D. I did wrong in my first attempt :( , so in that way you are much way ahead than me for this passage :D


I hope it helps. :cool:
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Prevailing scholarly opinion holds that modern science began... 11 Jul 2021, 10:26
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EducationAisle please could you help me with Q3. (A) (C) and (D) totally confused. I went through the thread but wasn't convinced with the answers provided
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Prevailing scholarly opinion holds that modern science began... 11 Jul 2021, 20:58
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Hoozan
EducationAisle please could you help me with Q3. (A) (C) and (D) totally confused. I went through the thread but wasn't convinced with the answers provided
Show more
Yeah..A and C are close..but according to the passage, it is just that the "use of experiments" (and not modern science itself) began in 16th century.

However, the author is of the opinion that modern science started much earlier (in 14th century); in 16th century, the only thing that happened was that an additional "component" (in the form of use of experiments) was added to Modern science.
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Prevailing scholarly opinion holds that modern science began... 11 Jul 2021, 21:43
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EducationAisle please could you help me with Q3. (A) (C) and (D) totally confused. I went through the thread but wasn't convinced with the answers provided
Yeah..A and C are close..but according to the passage, it is just that the "use of experiments" (and not modern science itself) began in 16th century.

However, the author is of the opinion that modern science started much earlier (in 14th century); in 16th century, the only thing that happened was that an additional "component" (in the form of use of experiments) was added to Modern science.
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But one of the key components of modern science is experiments right? So until and unless we don't have this key component how can we state that 14 C.E. was the period when Modern science began?

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Prevailing scholarly opinion holds that modern science began... 11 Jul 2021, 21:49
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Hoozan

But one of the key components of modern science is experiments right? So until and unless we don't have this key component how can we state that 14 C.E. was the period when Modern science began?
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Well, the author says that modern science should be identified with a particular way of approaching the study of nature.

Further, the passage states that many important elements of this approach were already in place and articulated as early as the fourteenth century.
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Prevailing scholarly opinion holds that modern science began... 11 Jul 2021, 21:57
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Hoozan

But one of the key components of modern science is experiments right? So until and unless we don't have this key component how can we state that 14 C.E. was the period when Modern science began?
Well, the author says that modern science should be identified with a particular way of approaching the study of nature.

Further, the passage states that many important elements of this approach were already in place and articulated as early as the fourteenth century.
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True. But many important elements were present without the key element. So can we infer that without the key element (experiments) modern science can't begin from a particular period?

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Prevailing scholarly opinion holds that modern science began... 12 Jul 2021, 04:43
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Hoozan

True. But many important elements were present without the key element. So can we infer that without the key element (experiments) modern science can't begin from a particular period?
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Read A again Hoozan:

The use of experiments is the crucial factor enabling scientists to engage in what can properly be described as modern science.

The passage does not mention or allude anywhere that modern science was improper before the use of experiments. The use of experiments was just a crucial missing ingredient prior to the sixteenth century.

For all you know, many crucial ingredients have been added to modern science after the the sixteenth century also. Crucial ingredients getting successively added are all about evolution of modern science.

But what's being talked about in the passage, is the origin (and not the evolution) of modern science.
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Prevailing scholarly opinion holds that modern science began... 08 Jul 2025, 23:33
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Hi GMATNinja KarishmaB mikemcgarry

I needed your help with Q1.

I had selected option D because I understood the passage as bridging two contradicting viewpoints on what is marks the beginning of modern science. The author says that he doesn't side with the prevailing opinion, shares what in his/her opinion marked a change in approach to scientific inquiry, and hence should be considered as the beginning of modern science. In the process, the author also mentions what happened in the 16/17th century to make it noteworthy in the history of science. Why can't we say that this is reconciliation of two sides of a debate?

I wasn't able to find any reasons to eliminate option A, except the phrasing 'certain issue'. I thought this isn't really an issue that's being discussed but rather a belief/opinion.

Please share your thoughts. Thanks!
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Prevailing scholarly opinion holds that modern science began... 24 Jul 2025, 07:26
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Hi GMATNinja KarishmaB mikemcgarry

I needed your help with Q1.

I had selected option D because I understood the passage as bridging two contradicting viewpoints on what is marks the beginning of modern science. The author says that he doesn't side with the prevailing opinion, shares what in his/her opinion marked a change in approach to scientific inquiry, and hence should be considered as the beginning of modern science. In the process, the author also mentions what happened in the 16/17th century to make it noteworthy in the history of science. Why can't we say that this is reconciliation of two sides of a debate?

I wasn't able to find any reasons to eliminate option A, except the phrasing 'certain issue'. I thought this isn't really an issue that's being discussed but rather a belief/opinion.

Please share your thoughts. Thanks!
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The prevailing scholarly opinion is that modern science began with the great achievements of the scientific revolution of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The author, on the other hand, contends that modern science actually began as early as the fourteenth century. Those two viewpoints cannot be reconciled: if one is true, then the other must be false.

Yes, the author concedes that an "important ingredient" of modern science was developed in the sixteenth century, but that's not enough to reconcile the two opposing viewpoints.

Another clue against (D) is that there is nothing about a "debate" in the passage. Instead, all we have is (1) the prevailing scholarly view and (2) the author's view. The word "debate" would make more sense if the author was talking about a disagreement between two other groups of people.

(D) is tempting, but (A) is a better option. Yes, the 16th century was a major milestone for modern science, but only because of an advancement in modern science at that time, not because modern science started at that time. In that way, the author qualifies the prevailing view.
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Prevailing scholarly opinion holds that modern science began... 26 Sep 2025, 02:51
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Since there are a couple of doubts on Question 1, sharing a detailed explanation that may help in understanding this question well enough.

Let's break this down together:

Step 1: Identify the author's stance vs. others' views
Notice how the passage starts with "Prevailing scholarly opinion holds..." - that's not the author's view, it's what most scholars believe. This is your first clue that the author is setting up someone else's position. Why would they do that? Usually to challenge or modify it!

Step 2: Look for the pivot
The key word "however" in the second sentence tells us the author disagrees. They're saying modern science shouldn't be identified with specific achievements (like what Galileo or Newton did) but rather with a methodology or approach. This is the author actively challenging the established view.

Step 3: Track how the author supports their position
The author then provides evidence about Jean Buridan from the 14th century who already had key elements of the scientific method - like assuming nature follows regular patterns and seeking simple explanations. This isn't just historical information; it's ammunition for the author's argument that modern science started earlier than commonly believed.

Step 4: See how it all comes together
In the final sentence, the author acknowledges what was new about the 16th-17th century scientific revolution (experiments) while maintaining their point that the methodological foundations were already centuries old.

So what's the author's primary purpose? They're qualifying (modifying/challenging) the established scholarly view. They're not completely rejecting it, but saying "Yes, the scientific revolution was important, BUT modern science actually has earlier origins than you think."

Why (A) is correct: The author takes the prevailing view and modifies it - that's exactly what "qualify" means. They don't destroy the traditional view; they refine and adjust it.

Why (B) is wrong: If the author were just summarizing, they'd neutrally present the scholarly view without challenging it. But that "however" and everything after shows they're arguing against the prevailing opinion, not just reporting it.

You can check out the step-by-step solution on Neuron by e-GMAT to see the complete Progressive Passage Analysis framework that helps you systematically track author stance vs. presented information in any RC passage. You can also explore other GMAT official questions with detailed solutions on Neuron for structured practice here.
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