New laws make it easier to patent just about anything

Question

New laws make it easier to patent just about anything, from parts of the human genome to a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Commentators are concerned about the implications of allowing patents for things that can hardly be described as “inventions.” However, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office believes that allowing for strong copyright and patent protections fosters the kind of investment in research and development needed to spur innovation.

Which of the following can be properly inferred from the statements above?

(A) It was not possible in the past to patent something as common as a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
(B) The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is more interested in business profits than in true innovation.
(C) Investment in research and development is often needed to spur innovation.
(D) The human genome is part of nature and shouldn’t be patented.
(E) Commentators who are concerned about too many patents aren’t very well informed.

Mahmud6 · Accepted Answer

Not convinced how it is A!

The argument says "New laws make it  easier  ...... to patent .....peanut butter and jelly sandwich". Nowhere it is said that "It was  not possible  ... to patent .....peanut butter and jelly sandwich."

It might happened that in the past patent was  possible but not easier .

I don't see anything wrong with option C.

Anyone to help me?

ashish8814 · Answer

can sum1 plz shed light on this question. i opted my answer as b.

sobby · Answer

I went for C as well..
the argument is saying that news laws make it  easier   to get patent--- earlier it was difficult to get patent but not impossible ...
Expert please advice.

guptarahul · Answer

(A) It was not possible in the past to patent something as common as a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Keep it side.

(B) The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is more interested in business profits than in true innovation. Incorrect

(C) Investment in research and development is often needed to spur innovation. Keep it side

(D) The human genome is part of nature and shouldn’t be patented.Incorrect

(E) Commentators who are concerned about too many patents aren’t very well informed.Incorrect

NOW between A and C

Patent and Trademark Office believes that allowing for strong copyright and patent protections fosters the kind of investment in research and development needed to spur innovation.

(C) Investment in research and development is often needed to spur innovation. is already given in the argument hence wrong.

so ans is

Show Spoiler

A

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goforgmat · Answer

I don't agree with the OA.Clearly the two contenders are A and C. the reason i ruled out A was because of the premise "New Laws make it easier " we cannot conclude that it wasnt possible just that it wasnt easy as it is now.
C seems more likely. Experts your views on this please

sayantanc2k  ,  chetan2u

goforgmat · Answer

Same reasoning as well, lets see what experts have to say.

VachePBH · Answer

IMO, the option C states something that has already been mentioned in the text, hence, this is not an inference. Left with the option A.

GMATNinjaTwo · Answer

This question appears to be from an unofficial source (GMAT for Dummies), so I wouldn't worry too much about it!

Firdaus · Answer

Is it an Assumption Question? No. 
Since it is an inference question we can rephrase anything already stated in the argument.

RK84 · Answer

the word "often" in C is making it an unacceptable answer choice. Hence, A

venky90 · Answer

I also marked A. 
While it's ok to rephrase anything in the argument, I don't think restating the premise makes it a conclusion.

Bunuel · Answer

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION:

A. This critical-reasoning question asks you to draw an inference from the passage. Inference questions generally focus on a premise rather than on a conclusion. The passage implies that the patent office wants to promote invention, so Choice (B) doesn’t work. Choices (D) and (E) express opinions that aren’t presented in the passage. Although you may agree that the genome shouldn’t be patented or that people who are concerned about patents aren’t well informed, the question doesn’t ask you for your opinion.

Don’t choose answer choices to critical-reasoning questions just because you agree with them. Base your answers on the opinions stated or implied by the paragraph.

Because Choice (C) is stated in the passage, it can’t be an inference. The answer must be Choice (A), because it flows logically from the first premise and isn’t stated in the passage.

diagoel · Answer

New laws make it easier to patent just about anything, from parts of the human genome to a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Commentators are concerned about the implications of allowing patents for things that can hardly be described as ???inventions.??? However, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office believes that allowing for strong copyright and patent protections fosters the kind of investment in research and development needed to spur innovation.

Which of the following can be properly inferred from the statements above?

(A) It was not possible in the past to patent something as common as a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
(B) The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is more interested in business profits than in true innovation.
(C) Investment in research and development is often needed to spur innovation.
(D) The human genome is part of nature and shouldn???t be patented.
(E) Commentators who are concerned about too many patents aren???t very well informed.

Concern - Im not sure how A will be the right answer in comparison to C

Krish008 · Answer

I was also confused with option A and C but after analyzing I went for A because

crux of the passage is about how patent is now easy even to patent small things as we see it in Eg given in question

Option A We know that in past it may be difficult but not impossible but check option once it says in past it was not possible to patent common thing 
 such as sandwich etc. 
 
Option C crux is missing where the option talks about patent nowhere and also it is already written in the passage how can infer that.

And other option are vague and can't infer 
 
Note : I may be wrong. Your reply are always welcome to correct me.

abhishekujjawal · Answer

I agree with the previous comments and it seems answer mentioned is wrong, the correct. Answer should be C.

New laws make it easier to patent just about anything

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GMAT Critical Reasoning (CR) Questions

New laws make it easier to patent just about anything

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