Bunuel wrote:
Which of the following most logically completes the argument?
A statue belonging to a series of five was taken to Country A by a victorious ruler after a battle that had taken place in Country B around 300 BCE. Today, Country B is requesting the return of the statue, claiming that it was designed by one of their most important traditional artists. Country A is refusing to return the statue based on the claim that if their ancient ruler had not taken it, it would have been destroyed like the other four in the series. Country B's request should be honored since __________.
A. geologists have verified the occurence of a major earthquake that took place in Country B around 250 BCE
B. many wars were waged between tribal nations native to the areas now occupied by the two countries
C. an ancient scripture recounts that foreign slaves belonging to Country B were employed to fashion the statues from extremely hard and heavy granite slabs
D. archaeological evidence points to plundering by Country A as the cause for the destruction of the remaining statues in the series
E. the statue was created in an aesthetic style that holds no resemblance to the ancient architecture of the area
Claim by Country A: They saved the 5th statue from destruction so Country B owes them and therefore should allow them to keep it.
Finders, Keepers! Question: Why should A return the statue?
Conclusion: Correct answer could be that MAYBE A doesn't owe B anything.
A. Earthquake happened in B at 250 BC, A took it in 300 BC.
These timelines don't convey anything about the ownership or who saved it. So irrelevant. B. If many wars took place, then may be the statue is not even B's. But Premise says that B's artists made the statue. Therefore,
this option attacks the premise so it cannot be correct.C. Foreign slaves made the statue.
This option also attacks the premise that B's artists made the statue so it cannot be correct.
D. A destroyed 4 statues so this
tells that A was the reason of destruction and it raises the question "Did A really save the 5th statue or stole it?" In this case A owes it B for the past destruction and therefore A is obliged to return the statue.E. The style of statue doesn't match the style of the region where it was found.
This conveys that the statue may not belong to B. If it were so then A would not return the statue. But the stem says "B's request must be honored because..." We need to find a reason why A should return the statue not why A should keep it. Therefore, option D is the correct answer.