Most people believe that gold and platinum are the most valuable

Most people believe that gold and platinum are the most valuable commodities. To the true entrepreneur, however, gold and platinum are less valuable than the knowledge of opportunities is. Thus, in the world of high finance, information is the most valuable commodity.

The author of the passage above makes which of the following assumptions?

A. Gold and platinum are not the most valuable commodities. - WRONG. More of an inference.

B. Entrepreneurs are not like most people. - WRONG. Irrelevant.

C. The value of information is incalculably high. - WRONG. So what.!!! Neutral case.

D. Information about business opportunities is accurate and leads to increased wealth. - CORRECT. If not so then conclusion falters.
 
E. Only entrepreneurs feel that information is the most valuable commodity. - WRONG. Not necessarily true. Also, it has no impact on the conclusion.

­IMO Answer D.

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Princeton Review Official Explanation:

Here’s How to Crack It:

The question asks for the assumption made by the author, so this is an assumption question.

An assumption supports the conclusion of an argument, so when you read the passage, look for the conclusion. The word “thus” in the passage’s final sentence gives it away: in the world of high finance, information is the most valuable commodity.

Now determine what information in the passage is in support of the conclusion. Two pieces of information are provided in support of the conclusion. One group of people—most people—believe that gold and platinum are the most valuable commodities. Another group— true entrepreneurs—believe that gold and platinum are less valuable than is the knowledge of opportunities.

From the opinions of two groups of people, the author concludes that the opinion of one group is to be preferred, but the passage doesn’t say why. Therefore, it’s likely that the correct answer will explain why the opinion of the true entrepreneur is to be preferred. With that in mind, you’re ready to attack the answer choices:

A. Gold and platinum are not the most valuable commodities.

This answer appears to support the conclusion. If gold and platinum are not the most valuable commodities, there’s a chance that information is. By itself, however, the idea that gold and platinum are not the most valuable commodities doesn’t mean information is the most valuable commodity. This assumption provides no reason why the author should agree with the true entrepreneur; it doesn’t link the argument’s premises to its conclusion. Eliminate (A).

B. Entrepreneurs are not like most people in other careers.

This answer choice doesn’t tell you anything you don’t already know: if the true entrepreneur doesn’t share the opinion of most people, then entrepreneurs aren’t like most people (at least not in the way they value commodities). In any case, this answer doesn’t provide a reason to favor the opinion of the true entrepreneur. Eliminate (B).

C. The value of information is incalculably high.

Be wary of the extreme language in this answer choice. The author needn’t assume the value of information is incalculable in order to believe that it’s the most valuable commodity. On the other hand, the value of many commodities might be incalculable; it doesn’t follow from this that information is most valuable. Eliminate (C).

D. Information about business opportunities is accurate and leads to increased wealth.

This answer links the argument’s conclusion to its premises by providing a reason to side with the true entrepreneur. To check whether this assumption is required by the argument, apply the Negation Test. If information isn’t accurate and doesn’t lead to increased wealth, it’s unclear why the author believes it to be most valuable. Negating this answer disrupts the argument, so keep (D).

E. Only entrepreneurs feel that information is the most valuable commodity.

This answer is out of scope. It doesn’t matter who believes information to be most valuable. What matters is why the author believes it to be most valuable. Eliminate (E).

The correct answer is (D).­