Ancient Greek vase-painting provides a consistent portrayal of satyrs

Question

﻿Ancient Greek vase-painting provides a consistent portrayal of satyrs (mythological part-goat, part-human creatures) as comic social creatures, fond of wine and given to excess. The statue known as the Barberini Faun is notably different in its depiction. Although scholars agree that the figure is a satyr, the only indication of its wilder, animal nature is a small tail. Apart from this, the figure appears to be a calm, solemn, well-muscled man who is situated in obvious isolation from others. These facts suggest that the statue portrays not just any satyr, but the satyr that King Midas captured by drugging its drink with a sleeping potion.

Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the argument above?

A. The location of the figure suggests that it is vulnerable to attack.

B. The satyr in the Midas myth is typically described as a serious and temperate creature.

C. Grapes and ivy around the figure's head indicate its association with wine.

D. The depicted length of a satyr's tail did not always symbolize a satyr's tendency to excess.

E. The Barberini Faun was discovered in the same area as a vase painted with a scene from the Midas myth.

MartyMurray · Accepted Answer

The conclusion of the argument is the following:

the statue portrays not just any satyr, but the satyr that King Midas captured by drugging its drink with a sleeping potion

The support for the conclusion is the following:

The statue known as the Barberini Faun is notably different in its depiction. Although scholars agree that the figure is a satyr, the only indication of its wilder, animal nature is a small tail. Apart from this, the figure appears to be a calm, solemn, well-muscled man who is situated in obvious isolation from others.

The correct answer must strengthen the support for the conclusion. In other words, it must strengthen the connection between the satyr represented by the statue and the story involving King Midas capturing a satyr by drugging its drink.

A. The location of the figure suggests that it is vulnerable to attack.

This choice tempts us to choose it by using imagery, "vulnerable to attack," that we might associate with a satyr being captured.

At the same time, being "vulnerable to attack" and being drugged and captured by King Midas specifically are two different things.

So, this choice provides no reason to believe that the Barberini Faun was the satyr drugged and captured by King Midas.

We have to be careful not to choose Critical Reasoning answer choices because of vague associations.

Eliminate.

B. The satyr in the Midas myth is typically described as a serious and temperate creature.

This choice clearly connects the Barberini Faun to the myth about King Midas drugging and capturing a faun.

After all, the passage says that this satyr is different from other satyrs in that "the only indication of its wilder, animal nature is a small tail. Apart from this, the figure appears to be a calm ... man."

So, since, apparently, most satyrs were "comic social creatures, fond of wine and given to excess," the Barberini Faun is unique in a way that the satyr in the myth was also unique.

The fact that both the Barberini Faun and the the satyr in the myth were unique in this way is a reason to believe that they are the same individual.

Keep.

C. Grapes and ivy around the figure's head indicate its association with wine.

Since the passage indicates that all satyrs were portrayed as "fond of wine," this information indicates nothing about the identify of the Barberini Faun.

Eliminate.

D. The depicted length of a satyr's tail did not always symbolize a satyr's tendency to excess.

This choice has virtually no effect on the argument. At the same time, if anything, this choice weakens, rather than strengthens, the argument by indicating that that fact that the Barberini Faun's tail is small may not indicate that it was "not just any satyr."

Eliminate.

E. The Barberini Faun was discovered in the same area as a vase painted with a scene from the Midas myth.

Since objects found in the same area could have little to no connection to each other, this choice does not clearly connect the Barberini Faun to the Midas myth.

If there were no choice better than this one, we might have to choose this choice since there is an extremely slight possibility that "the Barberini Faun was discovered in the same area as a vase painted with a scene from the Midas myth" because there is a connection between the Barberini Faun and the myth.

However, choice (B) much more clearly indicates a connection between the Barberini Faun and the myth. So, we can safely choose (B) over this choice.

The correct answer is (B).

gmatophobia · Answer

Conclusion of the argument  : The statue, Barberini Faun, portrays not just any satyr, but the satyr that King Midas captured by drugging its drink with a sleeping potion.

Support Given   
  Barberini Faun is notably different in its depiction.  
 The figure appears to be a calm, solemn, well-muscled man who is situated in obvious isolation from others

We have to support the author's conclusion -

Answer Choice Elimination

A. The location of the figure suggests that it is vulnerable to attack.

While one may think that this statement strengthens the argument by providing us with information that strengthens the fact that the figure was likely captured because it was vulnerable to attack, the statement doesn't provide us with anything concrete evidence to believe that the statue was indeed that of satyr that King Midas captured. We can eliminate this option.

B. The satyr in the Midas myth is typically described as a serious and temperate creature.

The passage mentions that   "...the only indication of its wilder, animal nature is a small tail ...the figure appears to be a calm, solemn, well-muscled man.."  .
The statement provides a piece of additional information that the satyr in the Midas myth is typically described as a serious and temperate creature. Hence, we are more inclined to believe that statue found was of the satyr that King Midas captured by drugging its drink with a sleeping potion. We can keep this option.

C. Grapes and ivy around the figure's head indicate its association with wine.

The information is not relevant to the conclusion. We already know from the premise that scholars agree that the figure is a satyr. Hence, this information doesn't help in reaching the conclusion that the statue was that of the satyr that King Midas captured by drugging its drink with a sleeping potion. We can eliminate C.

D. The depicted length of a satyr's tail did not always symbolize a satyr's tendency to excess.

This information relies on known words from the passage. However, the statement doesn't provide any information to arrive at the conclusion using the support provided by the author. Eliminate D.

E. The Barberini Faun was discovered in the same area as a vase painted with a scene from the Midas myth.

This option is a distortion. Even if the two objects were found in the same area, the information doesn't help strengthen the conclusion. Option B does a better job.

Option B

Paras96 · Answer

IMO  Option B, "The satyr in the Midas myth is typically described as a serious and temperate creature,"  strengthens the argument by providing information that aligns with the portrayal of the satyr in the Barberini Faun statue. If the satyr in the Midas myth is indeed described as serious and temperate, it supports the idea that the statue represents the same satyr from the myth and explains the unique characteristics depicted in the statue. This option lends credibility to the argument's conclusion.

GmatKnightTutor · Answer

﻿Ancient Greek vase-painting provides a consistent portrayal of satyrs (mythological part-goat, part-human creatures) as comic social creatures, fond of wine and given to excess. The statue known as the Barberini Faun is notably different in its depiction. Although scholars agree that the figure is a satyr, the only indication of its wilder, animal nature is a small tail. Apart from this, the figure appears to be a calm, solemn, well-muscled man who is situated in obvious isolation from others. These facts suggest that the statue portrays not just any satyr, but the satyr that King Midas captured by drugging its drink with a sleeping potion.

Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the argument above?

A. The location of the figure suggests that it is vulnerable to attack.

B. The satyr in the Midas myth is typically described as a serious and temperate creature.

C. Grapes and ivy around the figure's head indicate its association with wine.

D. The depicted length of a satyr's tail did not always symbolize a satyr's tendency to excess.

E. The Barberini Faun was discovered in the same area as a vase painted with a scene from the Midas myth.

The passage explains what Satyrs are. It then explains how the Barberini Faun Satyr (BFS) statue is interesting because the Satyr looks pretty much human except for a small tail. The BFS figure is further described as a "calm, solemn, well-muscled man who is situated in obvious isolation from others". Scholars therefore think this Satyr represents the one King M drugged with a sleeping potion in its drink.

We're asked to find something that supports this.

(B) is the answer. In a sense, it provides further supporting info that this Satyr depicts the one from the Midas myth. That the Satyr from the Midas myth was, for example, SERIOUS and TEMPERATE - which falls in line with the passage description of the BFS figure looking "calm" and "solemn". It's worth noting that Satyrs were usually depicted in ancient-Greek vase painting as "comic social creatures, fond of wine and given to excess". The BFS figure, however, is situated "in obvious isolation from others".

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KarishmaB · Answer

Premises: 
Satyrs are always portrayed as comic social creatures, fond of wine and given to excess.
But Barberini Faun, a satyr statue, is  different - it shows a calm, solemn, well-muscled man who is situated in obvious isolation from others.

Conclusion:  These facts suggest that the statue portrays the satyr that King Midas captured by drugging its drink with a sleeping potion.

What do we need to strengthen the conclusion? Premises mention nothing about the satyr King Midas captured by drugging its drink with a sleeping potion. If we are concluding that the statue is him, we should be given that that satyr was a calm, solemn, well-muscled satyr.

A. The location of the figure suggests that it is vulnerable to attack.

Irrelevant.

B. The satyr in the Midas myth is typically described as a serious and temperate creature.

Correct. Now the conclusion makes some sense.

C. Grapes and ivy around the figure's head indicate its association with wine.

Irrelevant.

D. The depicted length of a satyr's tail did not always symbolize a satyr's tendency to excess.

The tail only symbolizes that it is an animal.

E. The Barberini Faun was discovered in the same area as a vase painted with a scene from the Midas myth.

This option does give us some connect with the Midas myth though being discovered in the same area isn't good enough. The area could have representations from many other myths too. Not an irrelevant option but (B) is certainly better.

Answer (B)

Raman109 · Answer

Understanding the argument - Ancient Greek vase painting provides a consistent portrayal of satyrs (mythological part-goat, part-human creatures) as comic social creatures, fond of wine and given to excess. - Background info. The statue known as the Barberini Faun is notably different in its depiction. - Fact. Although scholars agree that the figure is a satyr, the only indication of its wilder, animal nature is a small tail. - Contrast. Apart from this, the figure appears to be a calm, solemn, well-muscled man who is situated in obvious isolation from others. - further substantiating the contrast. These facts suggest that the statue portrays not just any satyr, but the satyr that King Midas captured by drugging its drink with a sleeping potion. - Conclusion. Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the argument above? Option Eliminatio - Strengthen Who says that GMAT doesn't test vocabulary

Solemn means - not delighted, serious. Temperate means - calm. A. The location of the figure suggests that it is vulnerable to attack. - out of scope. B. The satyr in the Midas myth is typically described as a serious and temperate creature. - matches with the description of the statue known as the Barberini Faun (BF). ok C. Grapes and ivy around the figure's head indicate its association with wine. - this is typical of any satyrs. There is no specific linkage between BF and King Midas's myth. Distortion. D. The depicted length of a satyr's tail did not always symbolize a satyr's tendency to excess. - weakener at best. E. The Barberini Faun was discovered in the same area as a vase painted with a scene from the Midas myth. - may provide circumstantial evidence but not the direct link as provided by B related to the statue's characteristics.

Gemmie · Answer

B. The satyr in the Midas myth is typically described as a serious and temperate creature.

The passage argues that the Barberini Faun's calmness and isolation are unusual for a satyr.

If the satyr in the Midas myth is typically described as serious and temperate, it provides a specific mythological counterpart that aligns with the unusual portrayal in the statue.

This strengthens the connection between the statue and the specific satyr from the myth.

Let's analyze why the other options don't directly strengthen the argument:

A. Not relevant.  The statue's vulnerability doesn't connect directly to the myth of Midas capturing the satyr.

C. Grapes and ivy  are often associated with satyrs in general, not specifically the satyr captured by Midas. It weakens the argument by suggesting a more generic satyr portrayal.

D. Tail length symbolism  is a minor detail. The argument focuses on the overall departure from the usual portrayal of wild and excessive satyrs.

E. Discovery location  is interesting but doesn't necessarily confirm the statue depicts the specific satyr of the Midas myth. There could be other reasons for the statue's location and the nearby vase painting.

Dbrunik · Answer

ive read this over so many times now and still don't understand why E is not an appropriate answer. Given the context about the statue in question, and what is given about the myth, combined with answers E's finding it near other artifacts that embody the details of the Midas myth, we can assume that this satyr, with its unique description, is indeed the satyr from the midas myth. truly lost on this one.

Pr4n · Answer

If someone is having a hard time like I did, let me give you an idea which will make things clear and i have not found this in any explainations above even if they mean the same thing.

Typically Midas Satyr are serious but the one being potrayed is calm. So probably it was drugged.

Another way to look at it is, all the other Satyrs in Midas mythology are serious and temperate creature but the one in the stem is unique and hence this add further premise that this one is different from others hence probably it represents the one which was drugged.

Ancient Greek vase-painting provides a consistent portrayal of satyrs

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Ancient Greek vase-painting provides a consistent portrayal of satyrs

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