Reading comp PrepTest 144 · Section 1 · Question 12
Passage
. The following passage was adapted from a law journal . article published in 1998. . . Industries that use
Remaining source text redacted.
Passage walkthrough
Passage SummaryTopic: Legal Studies
Paragraph 1
While researchers fear that biotechnology patents will impede scientific research, their arguments rely on mistaken assumptions, and patents might actually provide an incentive to do research.
Key Lines:
Lines 8-10 - A question/problem is presented
Lines 14-17 - The problem is highlighted
Lines 17-19 - Two specific sources of the problem are noted
Lines 40-44 - The Author points out a mistaken assumption of those who fear patents
Line 47 - The Author introduces one reason they're mistaken
Line 51 - The Author introduces a second reason they're mistaken
Line 54 - The Author brings up a positive of patents
Meta-Structure:
Question/Answer - The passage starts with a question over whether biotech patents are hurting research. The answers make up the debate, with some scientists saying they do and others, along with the Author, saying they don't necessarily and might actually spur research. Since this debate dominates the passage and the Author takes a side, the Author's answer to the question is the main point.
Last Thoughts:
There's an interesting symmetry to the structure of the two arguments—both get explicitly broken into two parts. In Paragraph 2, those who fear patents fear exclusion and contracts. In Paragraph 3, the Author argues that they're wrong for two reasons. Knowing what each of these pairs is supporting, what they say, and where to find them in the passage will likely be key to answering the questions efficiently.
Paragraph 1
- Paragraph note
- Two groups that agree are introduced; a question is presented
- Views, minor Meta-Structures, and the author's attitude
- Biotech business and academics think commercial research should be patentable
- Question - Are these patents hindering research?
- Patents facing scrutiny (scientists and policy makers)
- Paragraph note
- The threat to research is outlined
- Views, minor Meta-Structures, and the author's attitude
- Enforcement - A patent holder stops others from using basic research materials
- Contracts - A patent holder requires someone to pay a lot to use research materials
- Example - Patent holder asks for money to get research costs back
- Academics - Fear corporations will charge too much
- Paragraph note
- The Author pivots to a defense of patents
- Views, minor Meta-Structures, and the author's attitude
- Concession - Used to be communal, but not all information was shared
- Wrong assumption of scientists against patents - Patents allow people to prevent others from using stuff
- Why wrong - Not applied to noncommercial research for 2 reasons
- 1 - It's expensive to litigate
- 2 - Judges don't enforce against academic research
- Other patent pro - Incentive to research to make money
While researchers fear that biotechnology patents will impede scientific research, their arguments rely on mistaken assumptions, and patents might actually provide an incentive to do research.
Key Lines:
Lines 8-10 - A question/problem is presented
Lines 14-17 - The problem is highlighted
Lines 17-19 - Two specific sources of the problem are noted
Lines 40-44 - The Author points out a mistaken assumption of those who fear patents
Line 47 - The Author introduces one reason they're mistaken
Line 51 - The Author introduces a second reason they're mistaken
Line 54 - The Author brings up a positive of patents
Meta-Structure:
Question/Answer - The passage starts with a question over whether biotech patents are hurting research. The answers make up the debate, with some scientists saying they do and others, along with the Author, saying they don't necessarily and might actually spur research. Since this debate dominates the passage and the Author takes a side, the Author's answer to the question is the main point.
Last Thoughts:
There's an interesting symmetry to the structure of the two arguments—both get explicitly broken into two parts. In Paragraph 2, those who fear patents fear exclusion and contracts. In Paragraph 3, the Author argues that they're wrong for two reasons. Knowing what each of these pairs is supporting, what they say, and where to find them in the passage will likely be key to answering the questions efficiently.
Question prompt
The passage provides the
Remaining source text redacted.
Why the credited answer is right
Credited answer: D
The notes below walk through why it fits the stem and how to eliminate the rest.
Question Type
Legal
Answer choices
-
APolicy makers are no Remaining source text redacted.
Why choice A is not credited
Incorrect. (Lines 12-13) The passage lumps policy makers and scientists together in their questioning of biotechnology patents. And, in any case, there's no discussion of the proportion of any group that is for or against restrictions on patents. -
BMost biotechnology patent holders Remaining source text redacted.
Why choice B is not credited
Incorrect. The patent holders don't really show up in the passage as a viewpoint to which specific statements are attributed, so we can't infer what they believe. -
CBiotechnology researchers who work Remaining source text redacted.
Why choice C is not credited
Incorrect. (Lines 4-7) The passage talks about researchers who favor patents because their funding depends in part on the patentability of their research, but that doesn't imply that those who oppose it can't get funding for their work. That's an illegal negation of that thought. Maybe other researchers get funding because they have patentable ideas, but they oppose the practice on intellectual grounds! -
DSuing for patent infringement Remaining source text redacted.
Why choice D matches the stem
Correct. Question Type:
Must Be True
Strategy Overview:
Head straight to the answer choices, using our overall understanding of the passage to focus on answers that are potentially correct, then use our notes and the passage to find the correct one
Answer Anticipation/Relevant Lines:
There's not much we can anticipate here—the correct answer could reflect anything or any viewpoint from the passage. Let's head to the answers ASAP.
Answer Explanation:
(Lines 23-27) The passage talks about a possible way for patent holders to control the materials they've patented—refusing to allow their use without a licensing agreement/contract in place. That's a legal means of exerting control outside of patent infringement, so this answer is correct.
Key Takeaway:
In Question #11, we said that lists tend to show up in questions/answers. We see that again in this question. Paragraph 2 featured two situations that researchers brought up to show the problems with issuing patents in biotechnology, and one of them showed up here as the correct answer. -
ERapid commercialization in the Remaining source text redacted.
Why choice E is not credited
Incorrect. Huh? The idea that people are unwilling to teach biotechnology is definitely out of scope of this passage.
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Started by Ryan-Mahabir