The Sumpton town council recently voted to pay a prominent artist to c

The Sumpton town council recently voted to pay a prominent artist to create an abstract sculpture for the town square. Critics of this decision protested that town residents tend to dislike most abstract art, and any art in the town square should reflect their tastes. But a town council spokesperson dismissed this criticism, pointing out that other public abstract sculptures that the same sculptor has installed in other cities have been extremely popular with those cities’ local residents.

Critics : town residents dislike most abstract art.
Town council : the abstract art from the same artist in other cities are liked by local residents.

-> Disagreement is whether residents will like or dislike,

The statements above most strongly suggest that the main point of disagreement between the critics and the spokesperson is whether

A. it would have been reasonable to consult town residents on the decision
-> No notion about consult is made in the argument.

B. most Sumpton residents will find the new sculpture to their taste
-> Correct. Critics and spokesman are having disagreement in whether people will like or dislike.

C. abstract sculptures by the same sculptor have truly been popular in other cities
-> Incorrect. The critics does not question whether the assertion made by town council is true or not.

D. a more traditional sculpture in the town square would be popular among local residents
-> Incorrect. No mention of traditional sculpture has been made. Furthermore, no guarantee is provided to say the opposite of abstract art is traditional art.

E. public art that the residents of Sumpton would find desirable would probably be found desirable by the residents of other cities
-> Irrelevant. The art form in Sumpton being loved by other cities' residents is not an issue in this argument.

Passage Analysis

The Sumpton town council recently voted to pay a prominent artist to create an abstract sculpture for the town square.
The town council of Sumpton recently decided on vote to bring a prominent artist to make an abstract sculpture for the town square and pay him/her.

Critics of this decision protested that town residents tend to dislike most abstract art, and any art in the town square should reflect their tastes.
People who do not support this move (critics) have two points
1. Town residents do not like most abstract art.
2. Any art in town square should reflect the townspeople’s taste.

But a town council spokesperson dismissed this criticism,
Yet, the town council’s representative invalidated this criticism.

pointing out that other public abstract sculptures that the same sculptor has installed in other cities have been extremely popular with those cities’ local residents.
The reason for the invalidation is that this artist’s abstract creations have been installed in other cities and the people there liked them.

Question Stem Analysis

The statements above most strongly suggest that the main point of disagreement between the critics and the spokesperson is whether

This peculiar question stem asks for the logical gap in the passage. In other words, it wants us to determine the main point of disagreement (which is not stated above) between the spokesperson and the critics.

Prethinking

The critics raise two points here.
1. Town residents do not like most abstract art.
2. Any art in town square should reflect the townspeople’s taste.

The town council representative addresses only the first point as in general, experience according to other cities is that people like the abstract art installation in their town square.
The second point is not addressed as the first one is where the contention lies. The town council hence too thinks that the art should reflect the townspeople’s taste. However they believe that the abstract sculpture coming up will do exactly that.
Hence the prethought answer is
The people of Sumpton will find the abstract art installation coming up in the town square to their taste.

Answer Choice Analysis

A. it would have been reasonable to consult town residents on the decision
INCORRECT
This is not a point raised by either party. Hence this cannot be the point of contention.

B. most Sumpton residents will find the new sculpture to their taste
CORRECT
This is in line with our Prethinking. Hence, this statement is the correct answer.

C. abstract sculptures by the same sculptor have truly been popular in other cities
INCORRECT
Nobody questions the town council spokesperson’s claim that the artist’s works in other cities have been popular. Hence this is not the point of disagreement.

D. a more traditional sculpture in the town square would be popular among local residents
INCORRECT
Whether the townspeople like traditional sculptures is not the point of contention as nobody raised this point. The point of contention is regarding the abstract sculpture, not traditional sculpture.

E. public art that the residents of Sumpton would find desirable would probably be found desirable by the residents of other cities
INCORRECT
Whether the likings of Sumpton’s people is similar to other city dwellers is not discussed in the passage. Hence this cannot be the correct answer.
_________________

To me (A) sounded the most reasonable one, since the spokesperson did not speak about the taste of the protestors. However, the reason it is incorrect is that the protest was from the critics. We are not sure whether they are the residents. Thus, (A) goes out of context. Next best is (B)

The Sumpton town council recently voted to pay a prominent artist to create an abstract sculpture for the town square. Critics of this decision protested that town residents tend to dislike most abstract art, and any art in the town square should reflect their tastes. But a town council spokesperson dismissed this criticism, pointing out that other public abstract sculptures that the same sculptor has installed in other cities have been extremely popular with those cities’ local residents.

The statements above most strongly suggest that the main point of disagreement between the critics and the spokesperson is whether

A. it would have been reasonable to consult town residents on the decision
B. most Sumpton residents will find the new sculpture to their taste
C. abstract sculptures by the same sculptor have truly been popular in other cities
D. a more traditional sculpture in the town square would be popular among local residents
E. public art that the residents of Sumpton would find desirable would probably be found desirable by the residents of other cities

We need to find on what point would the critics and spokesperson disagree.
Critics: Town hates abstract art. Hence they will not like this abstract sculpture.
Spokesperson: No, in other cities people have appreciated art by this sculptor.
By saying this, spokesperson means that people of Sumpton will perhaps like the art by same sculptor.

Critics and spokesperson are disagreeing over whether abstract art will liked by residents of Sumpton. Ans: B.

Amazing trap set in option D! Read the passage carefully to eliminate D.