Logical Reasoning

PT6 · S2 · Q18 There is no mystery as to why

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There is no mystery as to why figurative painting revived in the late 1970s.

Conclusion

There is no mystery as to why figurative painting revived in the late 1970s. People want to look at recognizable images.

Rephrase: The revival of figurative painting was due to the public's desire for recognizable art.

Evidence

Sorting out art theories reflected in abstract paintings is no substitute for the sense of empathy that comes from looking at a realistic painting of a figure in a landscape. Perhaps members of the art-viewing public resented abstract art because they felt that its lack of realistic subject matter was a rejection of the viewers and their world.

Evaluate

The conclusion is introduced early in the passage, explaining the revival of figurative painting as motivated by public preference. It aligns with the second most common pattern, where the conclusion is found in the first sentence. The passage provides supporting details that emphasize the public's preference for recognizable imagery over abstract art, solidifying the point that the revival was demand-driven.

Goal

Find the best available meaning match for the idea that the revival of figurative painting was due to the public's desire for recognizable art.

18.

Which one of the following most accurately expresses the main point of the passage?

  1. Abstract paintings often include shapes

    Out of Scope

    The passage never talks about the content of abstract paintings, and we're looking for a claim that was actually made in the argument.

    1% picked this

  2. The art-viewing public wished to

    Opposite (if anything)

    There's no suggestion in the passage about the public's desire for traditional subjects treated in new ways; it is about the public preferring recognizable images, which if anything feels more like they wanted to go back to traditional (non-abstract) modes of art.

    6% picked this

  3. Paintings that depict a recognizable

    Out of Scope

    The passage doesn't comment on the artistic talent required for different styles of painting, and our answer should be replicating a claim from the argument.

    2% picked this

  4. The general public is unable

    Assumption-Bait

    While the passage hints at a disconnect between abstract art and its public engagement, it doesn’t explicitly state an inability to understand the theories of abstract art. We want to match an answer with an explicit claim.

    9% picked this

  5. Correct

    The artistic preferences of the

    Why this is right

    This choice directly aligns with the conclusion that the art-viewing public's preferences led to the revival of figurative painting, focusing on recognizable images as the driving factor.

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

    83% picked this

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