An artist must suffer for his art say these successful

1. The correct answer is (B). The author is accusing the artists of being inconsistent,
claiming that they give lip service to the idea that an artist must suffer, but that
they then live in material comfort so they do not themselves suffer. Only (B) completes
the paragraph in a way so that this inconsistency comes out. (A) and (D) can be
dismissed because the author is attacking artists, not connoisseurs or purchasers of
art, nor critics of art. (C) is inadequate, for it does not reveal the inconsistency. The
author apparently allows that these people are, after a fashion, artists, but objects to
their claiming that it is necessary to suffer while they do not themselves suffer. (E) is
the second best answer, but it fails, too. The difficulty with (E) is that the author’s point
is that there is a contradiction between the actions and the words of artists: They claim
to suffer but they do not. But the claimed suffering goes beyond matters of eating and
has to do with deprivation generally.

2. The correct answer is (E). The sample syllogism uses its terms in an ambiguous
way. In the first premise, the category “American buffalo” is used to refer to the
group as a whole, but in the second premise it is used to denote a particular
member of that group. In the first premise, “disappearing” refers to extinction of a
group, but in the second premise “disappearing” apparently means fading from
view. (E) is fraught with similar ambiguities. The argument there moves from
wealthy people as a group to a particular wealthy person, an illegitimate shifting
of terminology. (A) is a distraction. It mentions subject matter similar to that
of the question stem, but our task is to parallel the form of the argument, not to find an
argument on a similar topic. (A), incidentally, is an unambiguous and valid
argument. So too is (B), and a moment’s reflection will reveal that it is very similar
to (A). (C) is not similar to (A) and (B), but then again it is not parallel to the
question stem. (C) contains circular reasoning the very thing to be proved had
to be assumed in the first place but while circular reasoning is incorrect reasoning,
it does not parallel the error committed by the question stem: ambiguity.
(D) is clearly a correct argument, so it cannot be parallel to the question stem,
which contains a fallacious argument.

Let's discuss.


I got B for number 1 after reading it a few times it was the only one that made sense. But your explanation for number 2 mentions things that aren't even in the question. Where does "the argument there move from
wealthy people as a group to a particular wealthy person" for A? It looks like it's the OA from another question using the same passage. Am I crazy?

The explanations I posted above are from ARCO. They drive me crazy too. That's why I want to look for another opinion.

I know that I am 4 1/2 years late in joining this discussion but I must say, 2 very good questions.

I can't understand why B is wrong for the second one; can't figure out decide B & E; only a little more inclined towards B (apparently the wrong answer )
Experts, could you please help here?

2. Having just completed Introductory Logic 9, I feel competent to instruct others in the intricacies of this wonderful discipline. Logic is concerned with correct reasoning in the form of syllogisms. A syllogism consists of three statements, two of which are premises, the third of which is the conclusion. Here is an example:
MAJOR PREMISE: The American buffalo is disappearing.
MINOR PREMISE: This animal is an American buffalo.
CONCLUSION: Therefore, this animal is disappearing.
Once one has been indoctrinated into the mysteries of this arcane science, there is no statement one may not assert with complete confidence.

The main purpose of the author’s argument is to
(A) provide instruction in logic
(B) supply a definition
(C) cast doubt on the value of formal logic
(D) present an argument for the protection of the American buffalo
(E) show the precise relationship between the premises and the conclusion of his example

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