Passage

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 objects is not scientific but literary or historical, then there is a risk of the whole business becoming merely futile.

QUESTION

CSAT

Easy

Comprehension

Prelims 2022

The author's assumption about scientific research is that

Select an option to attempt

Explanation

In the passage, the author argues that scientific research is likely never "completely valueless," regardless of how trivial, insignificant, or mechanical it may seem. The author acknowledges that even when research appears to be uninspired or unimportant, there is always a chance that the results may have value, especially if they can later serve as the basis for important discoveries or generalizations. This suggests that the author believes scientific research always carries some degree of value.

Thus, the correct answer is C, it is never without some value.