Passage

Directions for the following 3 (three) items : Read the following two passages and answer the items that follow the passages. Your answers to these items should be based on the passages only. Passage—1 To encourage research is one of the functions of a university. Contemporary universities have encouraged research, not only in those cases where research is necessary, but on all sorts of entirely unprofitable subjects as well. Scientific research is probably never completely valueless. However silly and insignificant it may seem, however mechanical and unintelligent the labours of the researchers, there is always a chance that the results may be of value to the investigator of talent, who can use the facts collected for him by uninspired but industrious researchers as the basis of some fruitful generalization. But where research is not original, but consists in the mere rearrangement of existing materials, where its object is not scientific but literary or historical, then there is a risk of the whole business becoming merely futile.

The author's assumption about scientific research is that

(a) it is never very valuable
(b) it is sometimes very valuable
(c) it is never without some value ✓ UPSC's answer
(d) it is always very valuable

Why the answer is (c)

• The passage explicitly states that 'Scientific research is probably never completely valueless.'

• It argues that even if research seems silly, insignificant, or mechanical, there is always a chance the results may be of value.

• The text suggests that talented investigators can use facts collected by others as a basis for fruitful generalizations.

• Therefore, the author assumes that scientific research always retains at least some potential value, however small.

• This aligns directly with option (c), which states it is 'never without some value.'

Why the other options are wrong

(a) it is never very valuable: The passage states that scientific research is 'probably never completely valueless,' contradicting the claim that it is never very valuable.
(b) it is sometimes very valuable: While the text implies value, the specific assumption is that it is *never* without value, not just that it is *sometimes* very valuable.
(d) it is always very valuable: The passage acknowledges that research can be 'silly and insignificant' or 'mechanical,' so it does not assume it is *always* very valuable.

Asked in the CSAT Paper II of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2022, held on 5 June 2022. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.