Art historian: More than any other genre of representational painting, still-life painting lends itself naturally to art whose goal is the artist's self-expression, rather than merely the reflection of a preexisting external reality.
Statements
causal (this is because)
In still-life painting, the artist invariably chooses, modifies, and arranges the objects to be painted. This results in still-life painting being conducive to the goal of the artist's self-expression.
causal (thus)
The fact that still-life painters can manipulate the objects to be painted means that still-life painters have more control than landscape or portrait painters.
Evaluate
Since the most common pattern on Most Supported is causal inferences, we would be most attracted to the Causal Connector Language like "this is because" and "thus".
The correct answer will probably reward us for understanding those causal relationships.
Being able to choose and modify the objects to be painted leads to better self-expression and leads to more control over composition/subject.
We can tease out hidden truths there such as - choosing, modifying, and arranging the objects to be painted is an act of self-expression
(implied difference) - in a lanscape or portrait painting, the painter doesn't have much control when it comes to choosing, arranging, and modifying the things being painted.