LSAT 144 | Section 1 | Reading Comprehension: Q8

RC Question 8 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: The academic researchers mentioned in lines…

DISCUSSION: In lines 30-31, the researchers are worried that patent holders will charge “prohibitively high fees”. Prohibitive means: difficult or impossible to pay.

So the scientists don’t think that it’s right for companies to charge fees that are high enough to discourage basic research.

___________

1. Competitive dynamics of the market? These researchers just want to do basic research. They wouldn’t use terms like that.
   Also, patents aren’t “the market” – they’re a government-enforced monopoly.
2. CORRECT. See the analysis above. The scientists think basic research is important, and they don’t think it’s good if high fees discourage research.
3. The researchers are talking about licensing materials made by others. They want to use those materials – this answer is the opposite of their opinion.
4. Same as C. The researchers want to use materials patented by others for basic research. Aggressive legal action would block research.
5. In lines 30-31, the researchers were talking about licensing fees. This answer has nothing to do with licensing fees – it’s talking about funding.