A university should not be entitled to patent the inventions of its fa

Question

A university should not be entitled to patent the inventions of its faculty members. Universities, as guarantors of intellectual freedom, should encourage the free flow of ideas and the general dissemination of knowledge. Yet a university that retains the right to patent the inventions of its faculty members has a motive to suppress information about a potentially valuable discovery until the patent for it has been secured. Clearly, suppressing information concerning such discoveries is incompatible with the university's obligation to promote the free flow of ideas.

The claim that a university should not be entitled to patent the inventions of its faculty members plays which one of the following roles in the argument?

(A) It is the conclusion of the argument. 
(B) It is a principle from which the conclusion is derived. 
(C) It is an explicit assumption. 
(D) It is additional but nonessential information in support of one of the premises. 
(E) It is a claim that must be demonstrated to be false in order to establish the conclusion.

Source : PrepTest 9, October 1993 LSAT, Section 2, Question 20

garcmillan · Accepted Answer

Clearly the first and/or last sentence must be the conclusion, as the sentences that are in the middle of the argument are premises.

So let's try the BECAUSE...THEREFORE technique to find out which one is the final conclusion:

BECAUSE  A university should not be entitled to patent the inventions of its faculty members  THEREFORE  suppressing information concerning such discoveries is incompatible with the university's obligation to promote the free flow of ideas.

It looks like surpressing info that is incompatible with universities is not explained by that universities should not be entitled to patent inventions

But, BECAUSE   surpressing info is incompatible with universities  THEREFORE  universities should not be entitled to patent inventions

If universities surpress information, that means they shouldn't be entitled or responsible of the patent invention, because it would never reflect the full invention

OPTION A

Bunuel · Answer

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

(A) Yes. The conclusion is stated in the opening of the passage (“ A university should not be entitled to patent the inventions of its faculty members ”). The rest of the passage presents an argument to support that conclusion.

(B) No. It is the conclusion.

(C) No. It is the conclusion of the argument, not a premise (i.e., assumption) of the argument.

(D) No. It is the conclusion.

(E) No. It is the conclusion.

Kinshook · Answer

A university should not be entitled to patent the inventions of its faculty members.
Clearly, suppressing information concerning such discoveries is incompatible with the university's obligation to promote the free flow of ideas.

Because  suppressing information concerning such discoveries is incompatible with the university's obligation to promote the free flow of ideas,  Therefore  A university should not be entitled to patent the inventions of its faculty members.

Conclusion: A university should not be entitled to patent the inventions of its faculty members.
Intermediate conclusion: Clearly, suppressing information concerning such discoveries is incompatible with the university's obligation to promote the free flow of ideas.

IMO A

CEdward · Answer

B is a nice trap.

The conclusion is the first sentence. The "principle" is actually the second sentence:

"Universities, as guarantors of intellectual freedom, should encourage the free flow of ideas and the general dissemination of knowledge."

A is the answer.

A university should not be entitled to patent the inventions of its faculty members. Universities, as guarantors of intellectual freedom, should encourage the free flow of ideas and the general dissemination of knowledge. Yet a university that retains the right to patent the inventions of its faculty members has a motive to suppress information about a potentially valuable discovery until the patent for it has been secured. Clearly, suppressing information concerning such discoveries is incompatible with the university's obligation to promote the free flow of ideas.

The claim that a university should not be entitled to patent the inventions of its faculty members plays which one of the following roles in the argument?

(A) It is the conclusion of the argument.
(B) It is a principle from which the conclusion is derived.
(C) It is an explicit assumption.
(D) It is additional but nonessential information in support of one of the premises.
(E) It is a claim that must be demonstrated to be false in order to establish the conclusion.

VerbalBot · Answer

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A university should not be entitled to patent the inventions of its fa

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