PrepTest 138, Section 3, Question 1
Curator: Critics have rightly claimed that removing the(51 more words not shown)
Which one of the following(10 more words not shown)
- AThe decision as(19 more words not shown)
- BAn artwork possesses(12 more words not shown)
- CIt is acceptable(21 more words not shown)
- DIt is right(25 more words not shown)
- EA picture that(26 more words not shown)
Reading the argument
Cleaning the paintings sounds good. Exposing them to acid sounds less good. Why is restoring their appearance worth that risk?
The curator accepts the critics' concern. Removing the grime will expose the frescoes to acids, so we cannot defend the restoration by pretending that concern has disappeared. Instead, the curator gives us a reason to proceed anyway: the grime prevents us from seeing the paintings as Michelangelo painted them.
I understand the benefit. But does that benefit justify risking future damage? Someone could care more about preserving the paintings than about seeing their original appearance right now. The curator needs a principle that gives the original appearance enough importance to justify taking the risk.
What we’re looking for
That's what I want from the answer: restoring our ability to appreciate the original work can make the risk acceptable. We are supporting a decision about what to do, not just deciding whether the dirty painting looks different.
Working the answers
- A
The curator doesn't base the decision on how great Michelangelo's work is. Even if we judged the frescoes aesthetically excellent, we'd still face the question of whether restoring their appearance justifies exposing them to acid. A offers a different basis for deciding.
- B
This tells us when art has aesthetic value. It doesn't tell us whether to perform a risky restoration. People might already observe and appreciate the frescoes through the grime; B gives no rule for choosing between their current condition and the risks of cleaning them.
- CCorrect
This connects the reason with the decision. The restoration aims to let people appreciate the frescoes in their original form, and C says that purpose makes risking future damage acceptable. Notice the limit: acceptable doesn't mean mandatory. C doesn't say every such restoration must proceed. But the question asks which principle most helps, and this directly supports proceeding despite the acknowledged risk.
- D
The objection concerns exposure to acid, not the price of restoration. We aren't told that the work costs a large amount or that it would give more people access. A rule about justifying an expense doesn't address the risk the curator accepts.
- E
Even if the grime makes this a different work of art, why should we clean it? We would still need a reason to prefer restoring the original appearance despite the risk. E changes how we classify the dirty picture without supplying a reason to take that action.
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