The argument depends on which assumption?
Scientific papers are written by researchers who are paid from public funds, reviewed by other researchers who are not paid at all, and then sold back to universities by commercial publishers at high prices. This arrangement made some sense when printing was expensive. It makes little sense now. Publishers say that they add value through organisation and quality control, and there is something in that. But much of the value, the peer review, is donated by the academics themselves, and the rest could be provided at a fraction of the cost. If findings are paid for by the public, they should be available to the public. A fair compromise would be a short embargo, after which every funded paper must be freely readable.
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. That the cost of organising and quality control is much lower than the prices publishers charge
- Step 1: The author says the remaining value 'could be provided at a fraction of the cost'.
- Step 2: That must hold for the complaint about high prices to succeed.
Answer
That the cost of organising and quality control is much lower than the prices publishers charge.
Why not the others: The author accepts some value, says nothing about reviewers' preferences, and says printing is no longer the main factor.
Practise more Research and publishing.
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