Question
The Dean claimed that, as a result of continued cutbacks in the budget for pure science research, fewer students are choosing a career in physics, and therefore the number of postgraduate students studying physics is likely to decline. Which two of the following sentences, if true, cast most doubt on the Dean's conclusion?
A. The number of students majoring in physics at the undergraduate level has been increasing steadily over the years, a trend that is expected to continue.
B. The number of students studying chemistry declined even before cutbacks in research funding were noted.
C. Most postgraduate students of physics move to careers in computer science and engineering.
D. The Dean's own university has recently increased the number of staff members teaching postgraduate physics.
E. Most of the postgraduate students are not interested to pursue a career in basic physics research after their postgraduate study.
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A. The number of students majoring in physics at the undergraduate level has been increasing steadily over the years, a trend that is expected to continue.
B. The number of students studying chemistry declined even before cutbacks in research funding were noted.
C. Most postgraduate students of physics move to careers in computer science and engineering.
D. The Dean's own university has recently increased the number of staff members teaching postgraduate physics.
E. Most of the postgraduate students are not interested to pursue a career in basic physics research after their postgraduate study.
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Answer:
:
The Dean's argument follows the logic that students choose to study physics because they want to pursue a career in basic research and since the funding for pure science research is decreasing, the number of postgraduate students studying physics is likely to decline.
Sentences C and E provide direct evidence to oppose the Dean's claim and hence are the right choices.
Sentence A talks about undergraduate students and hence is unrelated to the point of discussion. Similarly, sentence B talks about the number of undergraduate students studying Chemistry and hence is again is not related to the Dean's argument. If D is true, this means that there is an increase in interest in students to study Physics which counters the Dean's argument. However, it does not talk about the career motivations of students and hence does not weaken the Dean's argument seriously.
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:
The Dean's argument follows the logic that students choose to study physics because they want to pursue a career in basic research and since the funding for pure science research is decreasing, the number of postgraduate students studying physics is likely to decline.
Sentences C and E provide direct evidence to oppose the Dean's claim and hence are the right choices.
Sentence A talks about undergraduate students and hence is unrelated to the point of discussion. Similarly, sentence B talks about the number of undergraduate students studying Chemistry and hence is again is not related to the Dean's argument. If D is true, this means that there is an increase in interest in students to study Physics which counters the Dean's argument. However, it does not talk about the career motivations of students and hence does not weaken the Dean's argument seriously.
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