The correct answer is (B).
(B) Inference
Step 1: Identify the Question Type
A question that directs you to use information from the stimulus to support an answer choice (the direction of support flowing down) is an Inference question.
Step 2: Untangle the Stimulus
The first couple sentences focus on the importance in science of testing hypotheses and gaining recognition from overthrowing conventional wisdom. Subsequently, the author indicates that though predictions of global warming are widely accepted, some scientists remain skeptical. Finally, though hundreds of researchers are striving to make breakthroughs in that area, very few have found evidence against the likelihood of global warming.
Step 3: Make a Prediction
The correct answer to an Inference question is not always readily predictable. In the absence of Formal Logic or a clear deduction resulting from combining two pieces of information, inventory the facts and note any emphasized information. In this stimulus, the second and fourth sentences are the most emphasized and absolute: "Nothing brings more recognition than overthrowing conventional wisdom" and it's remarkable that hundreds of scientists are focusing on climatology yet few find evidence against global warming. Combined, those statements suggest that a scientist could make her mark by being the one to disprove global warming. In the absence of that choice, approach each answer by asking "does this have to be true?" and then confirming it against the stimulus.
Step 4: Evaluate the Answer Choices
(B) is correct. The author indicates that global warming is "widely accepted" with only a few finding evidence against it, and that "[n]othing brings more recognition than overthrowing conventional wisdom." Thus, recognition would act as a motive for scientists to discredit the conventional wisdom that global warming is likely. The use of the somewhat extreme qualifier most is acceptable here, because arguably all scientists in climatology would have this motive to some degree.
(A) is a 180. The author states that science is built on attempting to show that hypotheses are incorrect, and then says it is "accordingly unsurprising" that some scientists are skeptical of global warming predictions.
(C) is Extreme. The author says global warming predictions are widely accepted, but also acknowledges that a few have found counter evidence. This answer goes too far in asserting that global warming has been conclusively proven true.
(D) is Out of Scope. The stimulus does not indicate whether or not skeptics have offered any alternative hypotheses.
(E) is Extreme. The word primarily is a red flag in Inference answers. While the author believes that recognition is a motivator of scientists—and indeed recognition is the only motivation the author mentions—the author never compares the importance of this motivator to other motivations. You cannot assume that because an LSAT author mentions only one factor, it is the primary or most important factor.
