PrepTest 131, Section 4, Question 16
The Japanese American sculptor Isamu Noguchi (1904–1988) was(439 more words not shown)
In saying that " no(29 more words not shown)
- Aa metal that(22 more words not shown)
- Ba naturally highly(18 more words not shown)
- Cmetals that can(22 more words not shown)
- Da highly reflective(20 more words not shown)
- Ea highly reflective(21 more words not shown)
Reading the passage
My first thought is that we're distinguishing reflective materials from nonreflective ones, with expensive gold on one side. But the quoted sentence asks us to be more precise. Why could gold be relied on to reflect light when the other metals could not? Keep that qualification in mind as we check the choices.
Working the answers
- A
This substitutes degrees of reflection and different sculptural applications for the distinction we need. The sentence doesn't compare moderately reflective uses with highly reflective uses.
- B
The issue isn't whether highly reflective metals are technically suitable for making sculptures. It's whether their surfaces will keep reflecting light. Gold's expense is a separate practical problem.
- CCorrect
This sharpens our initial prediction. The key is that gold is “nonoxidizing”: its reflective surface doesn't deteriorate in the way the other metals' surfaces can. So the distinction isn't simply shiny versus never shiny. Other metals can be polished, but gold can be relied on to remain reflective.
- D
This changes what lasts. We're discussing the persistence of a reflective surface, not whether a metal sculpture physically lasts longer than a nonmetallic object.
- E
No distinction is drawn between metals accepted by traditional and modern sculptors and metals used only experimentally. Those groups of artists aren't the basis of this comparison.
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