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This is an assumption questions. Hence, I used the negation technique. Only A seems to weaken the conclusion and make it invalid.

First, locate the conclusion : The conclusion is "it is important to continue to grant patent rights, or else no one will engage in original development and consequently no new inventions will be forthcoming"

A - if we negate "Financial reward is not necessarily an incentive for developingn ew inventions". This is false. The passage clearly mentions that Financial reward is imp. Hence, best answer.

B - Not relevant to the passage.

c - Conclusion does not talk about holding patent right but talks about granting patent rights.

D - Irrelevant

E- Irrelevant
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Quote:
The development of new inventions is promoted by the granting of patent rights, which restrict the right of anyone but the patent holders to profit from these inventions for a specified period. Without patent rights, anyone could simply copy another’s invention; consequently, inventors would have no financial incentive for investing the time and energy required to develop new products. Thus, it is important to continue to grant patent rights, or else no one will engage in original development and consequently no new inventions will be forthcoming.

Which one of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?
Conclusion: It is important to continue to grant patent rights. Why?
Because, otherwise inventors would have no financial incentive for investing the time and energy.
So, here it is obvious that the author is assuming that financial incentive is the only incentive for inventing. Nothing other than money motivates these inventors.

Quote:
(A) Financial reward is the only incentive that will be effective in motivating people to develop new inventions.
As per our prethinking.

Quote:
(B) When an inventor sells patent rights to a manufacturer, the manufacturer makes less total profit on the invention than the inventor does.
Profits of manufacturers is immaterial for us.

Quote:
(C) Any costs incurred by a typical inventor in applying for patent rights are insignificant in comparison to the financial benefit of holding the patent rights.
This choice is tempting. This is saying that patent costs are insignificant compared to the profits from holding these patents. This option is talking about financial incentive but we don't know if financial incentive is the only motivator.

Quote:
(D) Patent rights should be granted only if an inventor’s product is not similar to another invention already covered by patent rights.
Nothing about financial incentives. Move on.

Quote:
(E) The length of a patent right is usually proportional to the costs involved in inventing the product.
Again this option is saying nothing about financial incentive being the only motivator.
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vjsharma25
The development of new inventions is promoted by the granting of patent rights, which restrict the right of anyone but the patent holders to profit from these inventions for a specified period. Without patent rights, anyone could simply copy another’s invention; consequently, inventors would have no financial incentive for investing the time and energy required to develop new products. Thus, it is important to continue to grant patent rights, or else no one will engage in original development and consequently no new inventions will be forthcoming.

Which one of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?

(A) Financial reward is the only incentive that will be effective in motivating people to develop new inventions.

(B) When an inventor sells patent rights to a manufacturer, the manufacturer makes less total profit on the invention than the inventor does.

(C) Any costs incurred by a typical inventor in applying for patent rights are insignificant in comparison to the financial benefit of holding the patent rights.

(D) Patent rights should be granted only if an inventor’s product is not similar to another invention already covered by patent rights.

(E) The length of a patent right is usually proportional to the costs involved in inventing the product.
Conclusion:
Thus, it is important to CONTINUE to grant patent rights, or else no one will engage in the original development and consequently, no new inventions will be forthcoming.

Pre-Think:
    The financial benefit is the ONLY Vital/Decisive FACTOR.
    So, here it is obvious that the author is assuming that financial incentive is the ONLY incentive for inventing. Nothing OTHER than financial benefit motivates these inventors.

Answer choice analysis between A and C:
    (A) Financial reward is the only incentive that will be effective in motivating people to develop new inventions.
      !A = Financial reward is NOT the only incentive that will be effective in motivating people to develop new inventions.
      Meaning - There are OTHER factors which will be effective in motivating people to develop new inventions.
      The negation of A shatters the conclusion.

    (C) Any costs incurred by a typical inventor in applying for patent rights are insignificant in comparison to the financial benefit of holding the patent rights.
      !C = Any costs incurred by a typical inventor in applying for patent rights are NOT insignificant in comparison to the financial benefit of holding the patent rights.

      NOT insignificant can be either
          significant - costs incurred > financial benefit: weakens the conclusion.
        OR
          similar in general - costs incurred ~ financial benefit: does NOT necessarily weakens the conclusion.

    This option choice sways in both directions.
    Thus, NOT necessarily shatters the conclusion on negation.
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The development of new inventions is promoted by the granting of patent rights, which restrict the right of anyone but the patent holders to profit from these inventions for a specified period. Without patent rights, anyone could simply copy another’s invention; consequently, inventors would have no financial incentive for investing the time and energy required to develop new products. Thus, it is important to continue to grant patent rights, or else no one will engage in original development and consequently no new inventions will be forthcoming.

Which one of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?

(A) Financial reward is the only incentive that will be effective in motivating people to develop new inventions. - CORRECT. If not then new inventions are possible.

(B) When an inventor sells patent rights to a manufacturer, the manufacturer makes less total profit on the invention than the inventor does. - WRONG. Irrelevant. Profit is not in scope.

(C) Any costs incurred by a typical inventor in applying for patent rights are insignificant in comparison to the financial benefit of holding the patent rights. - WRONG. True may be but not a necessary assumption.

(D) Patent rights should be granted only if an inventor’s product is not similar to another invention already covered by patent rights. - WRONG. Like B it is not necessarily true for inventions.

(E) The length of a patent right is usually proportional to the costs involved in inventing the product. - WRONG. Not likely to be true. Irrelevant at best.

Answer A.
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