14. If the government increases its funding for civilian scientific research, private patrons and industries will believe that such research has become primarily the government’s responsibility. When they believe that research is no longer primarily their responsibility, private patrons and industries will decrease their contributions toward research. Therefore, in order to keep from depressing the overall level of funding for civilian scientific research, the government should not increase its own funding.
Which one of the following is an assumption on which the argument relies?
A. Governments should bear the majority of the financial burden of funding for civilian scientific research.
B. Any increase in government funding would displace more private funding for civilian scientific research than it would provide.
C. rivate donations toward research are no longer welcomed by researchers whose work receives government funding.
D. Civilian scientific research cannot be conducted efficiently with more than one source of funding.
E. funding for civilian scientific research is currently at the highest possible level.
rivate donations toward research are no longer welcomed by researchers whose work receives government funding.