J.J. Thomson, The Discoverer of the Electron and a Recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physics, Trained Many Physicists, Among them Seven Nobel Prize Winners

Question: J.J. Thomson, the discoverer of the electron and a recipient of the Nobel Prize in physics, trained many physicists, among them seven Nobel Prize winners, 32 fellows of the Royal Society of London, and 83 professors of physics. This shows that the skills needed for creative research can be taught and learned.

Which one of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?

(A) J.J. Thomson was an internationally known physicist and scientists came from all over the world to work with him
(B) All the scientists trained by were renowned for their creative scientific research
(C) At least one of the eminent scientists trained by J.J. Thomson was not a creative researcher before coming to study with him
(D) Creative research in physics requires research habits not necessary for creative research in other fields
(E) Scientists who go on to be the most successful researchers often receive their scientific education in classes taught by renowned research scientists

“J.J. Thomson, the discoverer of the electron and a recipient of the Nobel Prize in physics, trained many physicists, among them seven Nobel Prize winners” – is a GMAT Critical question. This particular GMAT Critical Reasoning topic has been taken from the book ‘GMAT Official Guide Verbal Review, 2016 Edition’. This weakens the argument type of GMAT CR question. To answer the question, a candidate can by either finding a piece of evidence that would weaken the argument or logical flaws in the argument. GMAT critical reasoning tests the logical and analytical skills of the candidates. This topic requires candidates to find the strengths and weaknesses of the argument, or find the logical flaw in the argument. The GMAT CR section contains 10 -13 GMAT critical reasoning questions out of 36 GMAT verbal questions.

Answer: C

Explanation: GMAT critical reasoning tests the reasoning skills along with the candidate's logical and analytical thinking abilities. The candidate has to deduce the correct option by finding the logically correct argument.

Let us check an assumption on which the argument depends:

1. The choice provides additional information which is irrelevant and also out of scope since the nationality of the physicist and scientists is not discussed.
2. The statement does not clearly state the exact number of students JJ Thomson had at that time. Therefore this choice is not correct.
3. The answer choice is correct since it strengthens the link between the teaching of JJ Thomson and that all the scientists were not creative and renowned before learning from JJ Thomson.
4. Other fields are out of the scope of this argument.
5. This may not be true and is not relevant to the question. Therefore this choice is not correct.

The argument describes that creativity can be taught and learned, for that to be true one must say that before coming to learn from JJ Thompson students were not creative, if they were creative before then it could not happen that they learned it in JJ Thompson’s class. Option C is the correct answer.

Suggested GMAT Critical Reasoning Questions

• The pioneers of the teaching of science imagined that its introduction into education would remove the conventionality, artificiality, and backward-lookingness
• Seeking a competitive advantage, some professional service firms
• A major network news organization experienced a drop in viewership in the week
• According To a Survey of Graduating Medical Students Conducted by Association of American Medical College
• The Marison County Police Department recently implemented a new traffic safety program
• Few of the corporate contributions to the earthquake relief fund, aside from Pterocom
• Between 1980 and 2000 the sea otter population of the Aleutian Islands declined precipitously.
• A new medication for migraine seems effective, but there is concern that the medication might exacerbate heart disease.
• The Extremely High Cost of Running a World Class Zoo is Limiting
• French cuisine is highly regarded all over the world.
• Critics have Long been Puzzled by the Inner Contradictions of Major Characters in John Webster’s Tragedies.
• Because no employee wants to be associated with bad news in the eyes of a superior
• But man is not destined to vanish. He can be killed, but he cannot be destroyed, because his soul is deathless and his spirit is irrepressible.
• JIT stands for Just-In-Time. More than a standardized methodology or systematic process, it is a philosophy
• Josh has twenty years of typing experience behind him
• If the books have been cataloged last week, why haven’t they been placed on the shelf?
• Until recently most astronomers believed that the space between the galaxies in our universe was a near-perfect vacuum
• Switching to “Low-Yield” Cigarettes, Those that Yield Less Nicotine, Tar, and Carbon Monoxide
• Suncorp, A New Corporation with Limited Funds, has been Clearing Large Sections
• The Local University Recently Hired a New Soccer Coach.