Scientist: genetic engineering has aided new developments in many

IMO C
(A)
The manipulation of the genetic code of organisms is never unethical -The scientist does not say that it is never unethical
(B) Anything that is accomplished by nature is not unethical to accomplish with science - Nature is not brought into context by the scientist.He says that genetic manipulation has been going on for a millennia.
(C) The manipulation of the genetic code through selective breeding for desired traits is not unethical - The scientist believes that since it has been going for millennia, so it is not unethical.This is the correct choice.
(D) The manipulation of the genetic code through selective breeding for desired traits is important for human survival- No such conclusion can be drawn from what the scientist says.
(E) Science can accomplish only what is already in some sense natural, and nothing natural is unethical-The scientist does not compare the genetic manipulation with natural things.

Scientist: genetic engineering has aided new developments in many different fields. But because these techniques require the manipulation of genetics codes of organisms, they are said to be unethical. What the critics fail to realize is that this kind of manipulation has been going on for millennia; virtually every farm animal is the result of selective breeding for desired traits. Since selective breeding is genetic engineering of a crude sort, genetic engineering is not unethical.

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

(A) The manipulation of the genetic code of organisms is never unethical
Too extreme. Also this is the conclusion. hence this can not be an assumption. Drop It.

(B) Anything that is accomplished by nature is not unethical to accomplish with science
Irrelevant. In our argument Selective Breading is done by farmers not nature. Drop it.

(C) The manipulation of the genetic code through selective breeding for desired traits is not unethical
Forms the basis of the argument. Negate this. destroys Conclusion. Keep it.

(D) The manipulation of the genetic code through selective breeding for desired traits is important for human survival
Irrelevant. Drop it.

(E) Science can accomplish only what is already in some sense natural, and nothing natural is unethical
Accomplishment. Irrelevant. Drop it.

Answer: C

(C)

Let's say it in a more concise manner: Genetic engineering is not unethical because every farm animal is the result of selective breeding.

For this to be true, we have to assume that the said event, which we base our conclusion on, is not unethical.

Scientist: genetic engineering has aided new developments in many different fields. But because these techniques require the manipulation of genetics codes of organisms, they are said to be unethical. What the critics fail to realize is that this kind of manipulation has been going on for millennia; virtually every farm animal is the result of selective breeding for desired traits. Since selective breeding is genetic engineering of a crude sort, genetic engineering is not unethical.

Critic's claim: Genetic Engineering -> unethical
Scientist's Premise: Selective Breeding -> Genetic Engineering
Scientist's Claim: Genetic Engineering -> not Unethical

What is the missing link? As we can clearly see from the logical chain:
A->B
B->C
Implication: A->C
In this argument: Selective Breeding -> not Unethical


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


"never": that is not true and extreme. (A) is out.

"Anything": not true and extreme as well. (B) is out.

This matches our thought. Hang on to (C).

Human survival is out of the context. Hence, (D) is out.

Whether it was in some sense natural or not does not matter. (E) is out.

(C) is the only answer left. (C) is the correct choice.
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Scientist: genetic engineering has aided new developments in many different fields. But because these techniques require the manipulation of genetics codes of organisms, they are said to be unethical. What the critics fail to realize is that this kind of manipulation has been going on for millennia; virtually every farm animal is the result of selective breeding for desired traits. Since selective breeding is genetic engineering of a crude sort, genetic engineering is not unethical.

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

(A) The manipulation of the genetic code of organisms is never unethical - Extreme Language
(B) Anything that is accomplished by nature is not unethical to accomplish with science - Extreme Language. Also, they have not talked about such comparison.
(C) The manipulation of the genetic code through selective breeding for desired traits is not unethical - CORRECT
(D) The manipulation of the genetic code through selective breeding for desired traits is important for human survival - Out of scope.
(E) Science can accomplish only what is already in some sense natural, and nothing natural is unethical -Out of scope.

Conclusion: Genetic engineering is not unethical.
Question type: Assumption
Method I use: Negation Test/Opposite Answer.

(A) The manipulation of the genetic code of organisms is never sometimes unethical - The argument still stands.
(B) Anything that is accomplished by nature is not unethical to accomplish with science - Out of Focus
(C) The manipulation of the genetic code through selective breeding for desired traits is not unethical- Boom ! The argument collapses. Correct answer.
(D) The manipulation of the genetic code through selective breeding for desired traits is important for human survival- Out of Focus
(E) Science can accomplish only what is already in some sense natural, and nothing natural is unethical - Out of Focus
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I honestly couldnt understand the meaning of the passage even after reading it 20 times. How to train my brain?

Here's the passage with highlighted keywords:

Scientist:
genetic engineering has aided new developments in many different fields. - A general fact(sort of).
But because these techniques require the manipulation of genetics codes of organisms, - A reason for what is said in the next sentence.
they are said to be unethical. - A sub-conclusion(which is countered in final conclusion) and its reason is given above.
What the critics fail to realize is that this kind of manipulation has been going on for millennia; - Scientist tries to give further weight to his/her counter argument.
virtually every farm animal is the result of selective breeding for desired traits. - an example is presented to support the counter argument.
Since selective breeding is genetic engineering of a crude sort, - reason for the final conclusion that follows. This is part of the counter argument.
genetic engineering is not unethical. - Final conclusion. Part of counter argument.
(Breaking the passage as done above is possible only when the whole passage is read and understood)

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

(A) The manipulation of the genetic code of organisms is never unethical - It just kills the overall argument.
(B) Anything that is accomplished by nature is not unethical to accomplish with science - Irrelevant at best.
(C) The manipulation of the genetic code through selective breeding for desired traits is not unethical
(D) The manipulation of the genetic code through selective breeding for desired traits is important for human survival - Irrelevant.
(E) Science can accomplish only what is already in some sense natural, and nothing natural is unethical

Answer C.

HTH
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