PrepTest 141, Section 2, 18. Critic: An art historian argues…

How will the right answer fit in terms of support and conclusion?

Only the right answer will describe a flaw in the argument, although only the right answer will accurately describe the support and conclusions at all.

Highlight the main conclusion in the passage, if there is one:

this conclusion is wrong

Critic: [BACKGROUND]. However, [CONCLUSION]. [CONCLUSION restated], for [SUPPORT].

The critic argues that the art historian is wrong because their support “is irrelevant”. Just because you make a shoddy argument doesn’t mean your conclusion is wrong.

Map the wording of the answers to the wording of the passage:

(A) …the proponent of the position has other objectionable views

The passage only mentions one of the art historian’s views.

(B) …two different meanings of the term “mastery”

Every time “mastery” is mentioned, it’s master “of painting” or “painter’s” mastery. It should be clear that’s the same meaning all the way through.

(C) takes a necessary condition…

No it doesn’t. There is no necessary condition anywhere in the argument. That’s only when the author says something must be if something else happens.

(D) …two claims that contradict each other

Be careful. Lots of LSAT arguments have a disagreement like this in them. But no argument ever “bases its conclusion” on both sides of a disagreement. For this answer to work, two pieces of support can’t possibly both be true. Double check your tags and see there’s only piece of support in the passage.

(E) rejects a position on the grounds that an inadequate argument has been made…

The conclusion rejects a position for sure. And the “inadequate argument” bit maps perfectly to the author’s support that the art historian’s argument is “irrelevant”.

(E) is the correct answer.