PrepTest 130, Section 1, Question 12
City councilperson: Many city residents oppose the city(64 more words not shown)
Which one of the following,(14 more words not shown)
- ANothing qualifies as(7 more words not shown)
- BIf an object(15 more words not shown)
- CThe purchase of(12 more words not shown)
- DAny object that(8 more words not shown)
- EThe city art(10 more words not shown)
Reading the argument
Many residents oppose buying this stone edifice. That doesn't tell us what most residents want: the opponents could be five percent of the city while the other ninety-five percent favor it. In any event, their stated concern is whether the object is art.
The councilperson responds that art's purpose is to provoke expert debate, including debate about art itself. The edifice has done that. I can see why the councilperson regards the controversy as a point in its favor. But stating the purpose of art isn't yet a complete definition of what qualifies as art.
What we’re looking for
Initially, we might also wonder whether the city should spend money on the object. Look at the actual conclusion, though: it qualifies as art. The question asks us to make that conclusion follow. We need a rule that guarantees art status from what the edifice has done, not a rule about whether the city should buy it.
Working the answers
- A
This gives a requirement for art: it must cause expert debate. The edifice meets that requirement, but meeting one requirement doesn't establish that it qualifies. There could be further requirements. We need a rule that makes its known feature enough, not one that merely says art must have that feature.
- B
This leads to uncertainty among experts, not to the conclusion that the object is art. Even if causing debate prevented experts from being certain, that would not establish the classification the councilperson wants.
- C
This concerns whether people should oppose a purchase. It could settle a policy question while leaving the object's status as art unresolved. The conclusion we have to establish is the classification, so this rule doesn't complete the argument.
- DCorrect
The councilperson states art's purpose and tells us that the edifice has fulfilled it by causing expert debate. D supplies the bridge from fulfilling that purpose to qualifying as art. Accept the stated purpose as a premise, add D's rule, and the edifice's status follows. We don't need to independently settle a philosophical definition of art.
- E
This says what the commission should do if the edifice is art. But whether it is art is precisely what the argument is trying to establish. A purchase recommendation conditional on that classification cannot establish the classification itself.
More Sufficient Assumption questions
Learn the LSAT our way
Our platform drills Sufficient Assumption questions at your level and adjusts as you improve.