UPSC Prelims 2022·CSAT·Reading Comprehension·Passage Comprehension

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

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  1. Ait is never very valuable
  2. Bit is sometimes very valuable
  3. Cit is never without some valueCorrect
  4. Dit is always very valuable

Explanation

The author explicitly states, "Scientific research is probably never completely valueless." This sentence directly supports option C. Let's analyze the options: A) it is never very valuable - This contradicts the passage, which suggests even seemingly insignificant research can be valuable to a talented investigator for "fruitful generalization." B) it is sometimes very valuable - While true that it *can* be very valuable, the author's core assumption is about its *minimum* value, that it's "never completely valueless," implying it always has *some* value. This option doesn't capture the author's specific statement about its inherent worth. C) it is never without some value - This is a direct rephrasing of "never completely valueless." If something is never completely valueless, it means it always possesses at least some value. This perfectly matches the author's statement. D) it is always very valuable - The passage does not claim it is *always very valuable*. It acknowledges that it might seem "silly and insignificant," but still holds *some* potential value. The final answer is C.
Reading Comprehension: To encourage research is one of the functions of a university. Contemporary universities have encouraged research, not o
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