The crux of creativity resides in the ability to manufacture variations on a theme. If we look at the history of science, for instance, we see that every idea is built upon a thousand related ideas. Careful analysis leads us to understand that what we choose to call a new theme or a new discovery is itself always and without exception some sort of variation, on a deep level, of previous themes.

If all of the statements in the passage are true, each of the following must also be true EXCEPT:

A) A lack of ability to manufacture a variation on a previous theme connotes a lack of creativity
B) No scientific idea is entirely independent of all other ideas.
C) Careful analysis of a specific variation can reveal previous themes of which it is a variation.
D) All great scientific discoverers have been able to manufacture a variation on a theme.
E) Some new scientific discoveries do not represent, on a deep level, a variation on previous themes.

inference questions are still hard for me.
If it is an inference question with negative word, it is harder.
In an inference question, test takers rarely use the scope to eliminate wrong options.

Imo E
It goes opposite to the direction in which the conclusion is going .
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The passage does not talk about 'Great Scientific Discoveries' as mentioned in D. So why is D wrong?

Why E and not D.

Question is must also be true EXCEPT

D) All great scientific discoverers have been able to manufacture a variation on a theme.
call a new theme or a new discovery is itself always and without exception some sort of variation
From that line of the argument you can clearly infer this.

E) Some new scientific discoveries do not represent, on a deep level, a variation on previous themes.
call a new theme or a new discovery is itself always and without exception some sort of variation,
Mentioned line from the argument clearly mentions that, it will always deviate, this option questions that claim.

E
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