Every year, thousands of students graduate from fine art programs

Question

Every year, thousands of students graduate from fine art programs conducted by schools all over the country. Most art galleries and museums, however, only lend about 1% of their exhibit space to unknown contemporary artists. It is clear that a successful career as an artist is more like a fantasy than a possible achievement.

Which of the following, if true, casts the most doubt on the argument's conclusion?

A) Fine art programs have always been popular because they offer students a true opportunity to express themselves.

B) Although some art galleries are government institutions, many are private companies that operate in a similar way to ordinary retailers.

C) The development of the Internet, and communications technology in general, has created a constant need for talented artists of all kinds.

D) Last year, 61% of people under the age of 30 who filed for unemployment benefits had degrees in the fine arts.

E) Because today's art market is a global one, individual artists must compete with thousands of others from all over the world, if they are to become successful.

This is a  CR Butler Question

Data Sufficiency Butler  
  Problem Solving Butler  
  Sentence Correction Butler  
  Reading Comprehension Butler  
  Integrated Reasoning Butler

jack5397 · Answer

IMO - C

A - It is not impacting the conclusion directly and suggesting the alternate to the conclusion of successful career.  - Eliminate

B - Nothing concerning the career of artist is mentioned and neither supporting nor weakening the argument.  - Eliminate

C - Correct. Weakening the conclusion by suggesting alternate ways to succeed.

D- Out of scope  - Eliminate

E - Strengthening the argument  - Eliminate

MS61 · Answer

Option C is correct answer.

A) Fine art programs have always been popular because they offer students a true opportunity to express themselves.-  Focus on conclusion - successful career as an artist focus is not on why art programs are popular

B) Although some art galleries are government institutions, many are private companies that operate in a similar way to ordinary retailers. -  This option is describing the "most art galleries " which is not relevant to prove successful career as an artist.

C) The development of the Internet, and communications technology in general, has created a constant need for talented artists of all kinds. -  This option talks about an alternative platform for successful career. - Correct

D) Last year, 61% of people under the age of 30 who filed for unemployment benefits had degrees in the fine arts. - This looks like a strengthener to me as it provides evidence on the unemployment/ Art galleries not lending space to unknown artists.

E) Because today's art market is a global one, individual artists must compete with thousands of others from all over the world, if they are to become successful. -  This option about how one needs to compete with thousand of others to become successful. We are not concerned about how to become successful. No impact

Bunuel · Answer

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

Every year, thousands of students graduate from fine art programs conducted by schools all over the country. Most art galleries and museums, however, only lend about 1% of their exhibit space to unknown contemporary artists. It is clear that a successful career as an artist is more like a fantasy than a possible achievement.

Which of the following, if true, casts the most doubt on the argument's conclusion?

A) Fine art programs have always been popular because they offer students a true opportunity to express themselves.

Incorrect.

To solve this Conclusion Weakening question, first break down the argument. The first two sentences contain premises which provide factual data; the last sentence uses the conclusion phrase It is clear so it's the argument's conclusion:

Premise A: thousands of people earn fine arts degrees every year
+
Premise B: most galleries only give 1% of their space to new artists
=
Conclusion: a successful career as an artist is unrealistic

Possible assumption: exhibiting in art galleries is the only way artists can become successful

Weakening Data: ?

You are required to find data that weakens the conclusion that a successful career as an artist is almost an impossible thing to achieve. The correct answer could be one that exposes the argument's assumption.

This answer choice neither weakens nor strengthens the conclusion as the attraction of the students to programs that allow them to express has nothing to do with how they will find work and opportunities after they graduate.

B) Although some art galleries are government institutions, many are private companies that operate in a similar way to ordinary retailers.

Incorrect.

This answer choice neither weakens nor strengthens the conclusion that a successful art career is an unlikely thing to achieve. The way that art galleries operate does nothing to weaken the conclusion since we already know that they only use 1% of their space to expose new artists.

C) The development of the Internet, and communications technology in general, has created a constant need for talented artists of all kinds.

This answer choice exposes the argument's assumption that exhibiting in a gallery or museum is the only way an artist can become successful. By providing an example of another platform for exposure and employment, this statement weakens the argument's conclusion that a career as an artist is like a fantasy.

D) Last year, 61% of people under the age of 30 who filed for unemployment benefits had degrees in the fine arts.

Incorrect.

To solve this Conclusion Weakening question, first break down the argument. The first two sentences contain premises which provide factual data; the last sentence uses the conclusion phrase It is clear so it's the argument's conclusion:

Premise A: thousands of people earn fine arts degrees every year
+
Premise B: most galleries only give 1% of their space to new artists
=
Conclusion: a successful career as an artist is unrealistic

Possible assumption: exhibiting in art galleries is the only way artists can become successful

Weakening Data: ?

You are required to find data that weakens the conclusion that a successful career as an artist is almost an impossible thing to achieve. The correct answer could be one that exposes the argument's assumption.

This answer choice strengthens the conclusion, but you are required to weaken it. Providing evidence that the majority of young unemployed people are fine arts graduates just gives us another reason to believe that becoming a successful artist is extremely difficult.

E) Because today's art market is a global one, individual artists must compete with thousands of others from all over the world, if they are to become successful.

Incorrect.

This answer choice strengthens the conclusion, but you are required to weaken it. Stating that the art market is huge and that an artist must compete with so many others gives us the impression that becoming a successful artist is extremely difficult.

Every year, thousands of students graduate from fine art programs

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GMAT Critical Reasoning (CR) Questions

Every year, thousands of students graduate from fine art programs

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

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My Rewards