7. The stated goal of the government's funding program for the arts is to encourage the creation of works of artistic excellence. Senator Beton claims. However, that a government-funded artwork can never reflect the independent artistic conscience of the artist because artists, like anyone else who accepts financial support. Will inevitably try to please those who control the distribution of that support. Senator Beton concludes that government funding of the arts not only is a burden on taxpayers but also cannot lead to the creation of works of true artistic excellence.

Which one of the following is an assumption on which Senator Beton's argument is based?

(A) Most taxpayers have little or no interest in the creation of works of true artistic excellence.
(B) Government funding of the arts is more generous than other financial support most artists receive.
(C) Distribution of government funds for the arts is based on a broad agreement as to what constitutes artistic excellence.
(D) Once an artist has produced works of true artistic excellence. He or she will never accept government funding.
(E) A contemporary work of art that does not reflect the independent artistic conscience of the artist cannot be a work of true artistic excellence.

Both C and E seem like valid assumption. I chose E, since negating that would break the conclusion.

Great job, E is the answer.

Answer is E.

A: There is no relation with taxpayer interests in arts, it is only about financial burden on taxpayers
B: The point is not about a comparison with other financial resources, it is about any financial support
C: Passage does not talk about any agreement on artistic excellence
D: Doesn't make any sense for this passage

Hope that helps.

Below I wrote a shorter version of the passage:

The stated goal is the creation of works of artistic excellence. A government-funded artwork can NEVER reflect the independent artistic conscience of the artist. Thus, the funding cannot lead to the creation of works of true artistic excellence.

Now, if we put E before THUS, we'll see the logic of this assumption:

The stated goal is the creation of works of artistic excellence. A government-funded artwork can NEVER reflect the independent artistic conscience of the artist. A contemporary work of art that does not reflect the independent artistic conscience of the artist cannot be a work of true artistic excellence. Thus, the funding cannot lead to the creation of works of true artistic excellence.

Think it does make sense.

E
There is a gap between the premises and the conclusion. The senator argues that after taking money the artists produces works that serves to please the donors. He uses this evidence to claim that the artist, hence, cannot produce any a work of true artistic excellence. E fills the gap, and hence is the assumption.

Looks like personalizing the argument would work well in this case.

E

+1 E.
Logical flaw in the argument.

7. The stated goal of the government's funding program for the arts is to encourage the creation of works of artistic excellence. Senator Beton claims. However, that a government-funded artwork can never reflect the independent artistic conscience of the artist because artists, like anyone else who accepts financial support. Will inevitably try to please those who control the distribution of that support. Senator Beton concludes that government funding of the arts not only is a burden on taxpayers but also cannot lead to the creation of works of true artistic excellence.

Which one of the following is an assumption on which Senator Beton's argument is based?

(A) Most taxpayers have little or no interest in the creation of works of true artistic excellence.
Taxpayers' interest not talked about. Irrelevant.

(B) Government funding of the arts is more generous than other financial support most artists receive. Again, comparison of govt. funding with other funding is not made. Irrelevant.
(C) Distribution of government funds for the arts is based on a broad agreement as to what constitutes artistic excellence. What constitutes artistic excellence is not mentioned.
(D) Once an artist has produced works of true artistic excellence. He or she will never accept government funding. Too extreme.
(E) A contemporary work of art that does not reflect the independent artistic conscience of the artist cannot be a work of true artistic excellence. Correctly fills the logical gap.

+1E

+1 E