Most works of great poets have been translated into other languages.

Question

Most works of great poets have been translated into other languages. Although the effort is noteworthy, literary experts worldwide criticize this practice as futile. They maintain that translated works, owing to restrictions related to vocabulary and artistic finesse that necessarily crop up when any two languages are considered, can never reflect the true essence of original poetry. They conclude that such translated works cannot enjoy great readership.

Which one of the following is an assumption on which the literary experts' argument is based?

(A) ﻿﻿Most readers are not interested in reading the original works in a foreign language.
(B) It is easy to translate poetry from one language to another.
(C) Poetry is a matter of taste and every language has a different taste.
(D) Readers prefer reading original works in their language to translated works from other languages.
(E) A translated work that does not reflect the essence of original poetry is not worthy of reading.

https://gmatclub.com/forum/download/file.php?id=83812

Skanders · Answer

Hi
How is option E the right answer here ? The question is about assumption, from the passage we can literally see option E being mentioned. So the the assumption should be C right ?

Can anyone please explain ?

Thanks

siddhantvarma · Answer

OA:

Missing-link : Between all the information presented and the conclusion that translated work cannot enjoy great readership

Expectation from the correct answer choice : To strengthen the conclusion that translated work cannot enjoy great readership, through a valid assumption

A. This answer choice, suggesting most readers' lack of interest in reading "original works in a foreign language", makes no suggestion regarding whether the readers would be interested in reading the works if the works are "translated in the readers' language", thus failing to address whether translated works can enjoy great readership; so, this answer choice simply adds information which, although relevant to the broad context of the argument, has no bearing on the reasoning or its conclusion. Besides, this condition is not necessary for the argument to hold and thus, is not a valid assumption. Because this answer choice does not strengthen the conclusion through a valid assumption, this answer choice is incorrect.

B. The argument is concerned with "reader's interest" in reading translated works; so, information about the "ease of translation" is simply additional information that has no bearing on the reasoning or its conclusion. Besides, this condition is not necessary for the argument to hold and thus, is not a valid assumption. Because this answer choice does not strengthen the conclusion through a valid assumption, this answer choice is incorrect.

C. By suggesting that every language has a flair of itself, this answer choice only restates the fact in the argument that two languages possess different "vocabulary and artistic finesse"; so, this answer choice adds no new information and does not strengthen the conclusion. Because this answer choice does not strengthen the conclusion through a valid assumption, this answer choice is incorrect.

D. If readers "prefer" reading original works in their language to translated works form other languages, it does not necessarily indicate that the readers "are not interested in" reading translated works from other languages; it is possible that some translated works enjoy great readership even if readers generally prefer reading works in their own language; so, this answer choice simply adds information which, although relevant to the broad context of the argument, does not strengthen the conclusion. Besides, this condition is not necessary for the argument to hold and thus, is not a valid assumption. Because this answer choice does not strengthen the conclusion through a valid assumption, this answer choice is incorrect.

E. Correct. By establishing a connection between the lost essence of original poetry and a translated work not being worthy of reading, this answer choice fills the missing link and strengthens the conclusion that translated work cannot enjoy great readership. Besides, this statement does have to be true for the conclusion to hold; negating this statement would mean that "a translated work that does not reflect the essence of original poetry can still be worthy of reading" and thus, weaken the conclusion.

E is the best answer choice.

siddhantvarma · Answer

Skanders , I've posted the official explanation. Please let me know if you still have doubts/questions.

napolean92728 · Answer

The  correct answer is (E) :
 "A translated work that does not reflect the essence of original poetry is not worthy of great readership."

Explanation: 
The argument made by the literary experts goes like this:
 
For this conclusion to be valid, it must be  assumed  that if a translated poem  does not reflect the essence  of the original, then it  cannot attract great readership . This is  exactly what (E)  states.
So,  (E) is a necessary assumption  for the conclusion to hold.

Why the other options are wrong: 
 
  (A) "Most readers are not interested in reading the original works in a foreign language." 
 
 This may be  true , but it's  not necessary  for the argument. The experts are talking about  translated works , not comparing them with the original ones. The argument would still work even if some readers  do  like reading foreign-language originals.  
 
  (B) "It is easy to translate poetry from one language to another." 
 
 This actually  contradicts  the argument. The experts say that  it's hard  to preserve essence due to artistic limitations, which means  translation is difficult , not easy. So (B) is the  opposite  of what is assumed.  
 
  (C) "Poetry is a matter of taste and every language has a different taste." 
 
 This is a vague philosophical claim. Even if it's true, it  doesn’t logically support  the conclusion that translations can’t gain great readership. The argument is about  loss of artistic finesse , not about  taste differences .  
 
  (D) "Readers prefer reading original works in their language to translated works from other languages." 
 
 This talks about  preference , but the experts’ argument is about  why translated works fail to reflect the essence , not what people  prefer . Even if readers preferred translations, the experts would still argue they don’t enjoy those works due to their lack of essence.

✅ Final Answer:  (E) 
Because it  connects the missing link  between  lack of poetic essence in translation  and  lack of readership , which is the  assumption  that supports the argument’s conclusion.

Bunuel · Answer

Experts' Global Video Solutions:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PzO36oJd3I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-E9BcAaSPZw

siddharth_ · Answer

Although one can get to the right answer here by the process of elimination but the correct choice doesn’t seem to be ‘must be true’ as an assumption should be. The negation of the choice would be ‘a translated work that does not reflect the true essence of original poetry, is still worthy of reading’. This does not seem to be breaking the conclusion that a translated work cannot enjoy great readership. At best it seems to weaken the conclusion.
Is there something wrong with my reasoning?
 Bunuel   KarishmaB   GMATNinja   bb

KarishmaB · Answer

Option (E), assuming that the complete option is:
 A translated work that does not reflect the essence of original poetry is not worthy of great readership

is the assumption. There are no issues in logic here.

Given: Translations can never reflect true essence. 
Conclusion: Translations cannot enjoy great readership.

How can we break the conclusion? By saying that translations can enjoy great readership.

(E)  A translated work that does not reflect the essence of original poetry is not worthy of great readership
Negated (E) A translated work that does not reflect the essence of original poetry can be worthy of great readership

This means translations can enjoy great readership. The conclusion broke.

siddharth_ · Answer

Hey  KarishmaB 
Thanks for replying.

Actually the original option says -  A translated work that does not reflect the essence of original poetry is not worthy of reading. (Attaching SS) 
 Came across this in the 1st ExpertsGlobal Mock.

Had it been - A translated work that does not reflect the essence of original poetry is not worthy of great readership. 
 Then it would had been airtight as you pointed out.

But what would you say about the OE now. Is it still airtight in your opinion?

KarishmaB · Answer

The intent of both is quite similar so I wouldn't sweat too much about it. Anyway, in unofficial questions, we cannot focus on the finer point takeaways. We learn what we can from them and move on.

kartickdey · Answer

In the original question the option E is not complete

Bunuel · Answer

__________________________
Fixed the issue. Thank you!

Most works of great poets have been translated into other languages.

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Most works of great poets have been translated into other languages.

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