Critic: Almost all of the paintings

Answer choices

1. A

   Opposite15% picked this

   In spite of its title, Blue Irises

   First off, "in spite of its title" is hilarious. What was the test writer even thinking adding that sly aside? The author is assuming that Blue Irises is not nonrepresentational / abstract.

   15%
2. B

   Too Strong: any at all4% picked this

   Blue Irises does not depict any shadows

   The author has already done her job establishing that Blue Irises doesn't have sharp contrast between light and shadow. That's the characteristic relevant to the argument. From there, it's immaterial whether Blue Irises uses some shadow, no shadow, lots of shadow. All of those are compatible with lacking a sharp contrast.

   4%
3. C

   Correct68% picked this

   Blue Irises is not an abstract

   Why this is right

   If we negate this, we get an objection, which means (per the Negation Test), that this is a correct answer. If Blue Irises is an abstract painting, then it might be considered part of the city's art movement. Blue Irises doesn't have both of the customary traits of the movement, but some abstract paintings are in the movement, even though they don't have both of those typical traits. If Blue Irises is an abstract painting then it might be one of those abstract painting in the movement.

   Skill tested: Necessary Assumption · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.

   68%
4. D

   Too Strong: All / ever4% picked this

   All of the nonrepresentational paintings ever produced in the critic?s city

   Talking about "a movement" implies a trend, a phenomenon that has not always existed. The author's argument is only about whether or not a certain painting is or isn't in this movement. She doesn't need to assume anything about other paintings, nor other time periods extending infinitely back in time.

   4%
5. E

   Too Strong: All8% picked this

   All of the paintings from the critic?s city with a sharp contrast of light and shadow emerged from

   The author is saying that "almost all" the paintings in the movement have sharp contrast. This is accusing her of thinking that "every painting in the city that has sharp contrast is part of the movement.

   8%