­Historian: New York City became an influential art center in the 20th

­Historian: New York City became an influential art center in the 20th century, as seen, for example, in the influential 1913 Armory Show and the growth of museums. This was due primarily to a combination of New York's large and varied population, its basic resources, and its access to European art trends. The city could never have become an influential art center without the era's increased local wealth, which allowed more people to buy art. However, the changes were principally driven by the diversity of the city's population, including intellectuals and artists from Europe, and a culture that prized energy and creativity, which stimulated the artistic endeavors of many people.

Reading the passage, we see that it is attributed to a historian and that it begins with a factual statement about a historical development:

­New York City became an influential art center in the 20th century, as seen, for example, in the influential 1913 Armory Show and the growth of museums.

That statement is followed by statements that present information on what led to or caused the development.4

Let's move on to the question stem:

Select for Precondition the statement that the passage most strongly suggests describes a precondition for New York becoming an influential art center. And select for Strengthener the statement that would, if true, most clearly strengthen the support for the historian's explanation of why the city became an influential art center. Make only two selections, one in each column.

We see that, to correctly answer the question, we must select choices with the following characteristics:

Precondition - the statement that the passage most strongly suggests describes a precondition for New York becoming an influential art center

Notice that the answer for Precondition is supported by the passage. In other words, information in the passage indicates that one of the choices describes a precondition for New York's becoming an influential art center.

Strengthener - the statement that would, if true, most clearly strengthen the support for the historian's explanation of why the city became an influential art center.

Since the correct answer for this column is a strengthener, it will provide new information, in other words, information not already found in the passage, that strengthens the case for the historian's explanation. That explanation is the following:

This was due primarily to a combination of New York's large and varied population, its basic resources, and its access to European art trends.

and

However, the changes were principally driven by the diversity of the city's population, including intellectuals and artists from Europe, and a culture that prized energy and creativity, which stimulated the artistic endeavors of many people.

Let's now go through the choices.

New York showed significant economic development leading up to the early 20th century.

Scanning the passage for information related to "economic development," we see the following:

The city could never have become an influential art center without the era's increased local wealth, which allowed more people to buy art.

We see that the historian says that "increased wealth" was necessary for New York's becoming an influential art center. Since "increased wealth" would have resulted from "economic development leading up to the early 20th century," this choice is probably correct for Precondition.

"Economic development leading up to the early 20th century" isn't quite the same as "increased wealth." So, as we go through the other choices whether there's a better one for Precondition. Still, this one is probably going to be our answer for Precondition.

Keep for Precondition.

New York afforded easy access to major art museums in other cities in the United States.

This choice doesn't work for Preconditionsince the passage does not mention or indicate anything related to New York affording easy access to major museums in other cities.

Also, if anything, this choice is a weakener.

After all, the historian's explanation for New York's becoming an influential art center involves New York's large and varied population, its basic resources, its access to European art trends, and its culture.

The fact that New York afforded easy accees to museums in other cities would be an alternative explanation for New York's becoming an influetial art center. By presenting this possible alternative explanation, this choice provides a reason to doubt the historian's explanation.

So, this choice does not work for Strengthener either.

Eliminate.

Members of the Hudson River School of painters helped promote art in New York.

This choice doesn't work for Precondition since there's nothing in the passage indicating that artists promoting art was necessary for New York's becoming an influential art center.

Also, the fact that members of this specific school of painters helped promote art doesn't support the historian's explanation for New York's becoming an influential art center, which does not involve schools of art but rather involves population, basic resources, access to European art trends, and culture.

Eliminate.

The Armory Show and other influential New York shows like it featured many prominent European artists.

This choice doesn't work for Precondition since there's nothing in the passage indicating that art shows featuring European artists was necessary for New York's becoming an influential art center.

On the other hand, this choice does in a way support the historian's explanation that New York became an influential art center because of it's population, basic resources, access to European art trends, and culture.

After all, if the influential art shows featured prominent European artists, then it appears that European art trends contributed to New York's becoming an influential art center.

That said, this choice is not a very strong or clear strengthener. So, I would not be sure that the bit of connection it provides between "European art trends" and "influential New York shows" makes it the correct answer except for the fact that no other choice supports the historian's explanation at all.

So, this choice is the only possible answer for Strengthener.

Select for Strengthener.

The composition of European groups immigrating to New York changed in the early 1900s.

This choice doesn't work for Precondition since there's nothing in the passage indicating that change in the composition of European groups immigrating to New York was necessary for New York's becoming an influential art center.

It's not as easy to decide that this choice is not a strengthener, since the historian's explanation does involve "access to European art trends."

All the same, with a little thought, we can eliminate this choice. After all, change in the composition of European groups immigrating to New York has no clear connection to "access to European art trends." After all, the city could have had "access to European art trends" regardless of whether there was any change in the composition of European groups immigrating to it.

Eliminate.

So, the best answers are the following two choices:

Precondition: New York showed significant economic development leading up to the early 20th century.

Strengthener: The Armory Show and other influential New York shows like it featured many prominent European artists.