Here's the blueprint for assumption questions

you get a passage with an argument and conclusion

your job is to find an assumption that properly explains the relation between argument and conclusion

it serves as a bonus for weaken or strengthen questions as we need this assumption, where in the options for weaken questions it attacks this assumption or in strengthen question it supports this assumption


step 1 : Read the Passage. understand each and every sentence

"For centuries, mathematics seemed to exist in service to the natural sciences. Many of the great mathematical breakthroughs, like Newton's Calculus, were spearheaded in the effort to solve scientific questions. In the nineteenth century, though, mathematicians made it clear that the primary object of mathematical study was the abstract creations of mathematics -- numbers and shapes and functions and their more abstruse extensions -- irrespective of whether this study has any bearing on scientific investigation. Therefore, mathematics is not properly one of the natural sciences."

for a long time math looked like it served natural sciences
many mathematicians, particularly newton was a leading mathematician involved in solving scientific questions
in 19th century, though (this is the turning point of the passage), mathematicians made it clear that the primary objective of math studies was the virtual creations of math, like numbers, shapes like squares, cubes etc, functions like polynomials etc, regardless of if math study has any importance in science.
therefore (whenever you see therefore or hence, understand that its a conclusion. you may not see these words in other passages to point out conclusion but this is where, at the end of the passage for the most times you'll get the conclusion. you may also get a conclusion at the beginning and get an explanation for it for look out for that), math doesnt belong only to natural science

Step 2: Read and understand the options

Which of the following is an assumption that supports drawing the conclusion above from the reasons given for that conclusion?

A) Mathematics can also be used to serve social sciences, such as economics.
this is not an assumption, its a possibility that math can be used in social science. which we have no information about

B) The object of a natural science must be something tangible that can be perceived by the senses.
what this options says is that natural science deals with something which can be sensed, like speed, acceleration, force etc. essentially Physics which is present in real world not virtual, not abstract. the turning point of the passage says that math is more meant for something virtual

C)Some great scientists, like Einstein, by their own admission, were not very good at math.
yeah sure newton is mentioned in the passage but its just an example. Einstein being weak in math has nothing to do on the conclusion nor on the argument

D)If one discipline serves another discipline, it can never rise to the same rank as the discipline it serves.
what it says is that if math serves say, natural science, it can never rise to the same rank as the natural science which it serves. this doesnt say or assume anything about the conclusion. so it doesnt matter, we dont care

E)At times in the natural sciences, especially in Physics, mathematical calculations have led to extraordinary breakthroughs in scientific understanding.
once again we dont care about the impact of math on anything, we are only concerned with its place. as the conclusion states it does not belong only to natural science