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555-605 (Medium)|   Assumption|                     
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In 1563, in Florence's Palazzo Vecchio, Giorgio Vasari built in front 11 Jun 2022, 07:11
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Hi GMATNinja / JonShukhrat / MartyTargetTestPrep, would really appreciate the help on this one !

In the following question we see the following lines -> Historians believe that Leonardo da Vinci had painted, but left unfinished, a mural on the original wall; some historians had also believed that by 1563 the mural had been destroyed.

Could you please clarify the use of past perfect tense (had painted & had believed )here ?(since i thought past perfect tense is used when we need clarity on 2 past actions or it is used w.r.t to some time marker)

I can see that the following usage is fine w.r.t to time marker point as i said above ->
"by 1563 the mural had been destroyed"
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In 1563, in Florence's Palazzo Vecchio, Giorgio Vasari built in front 11 Jun 2022, 22:14
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Taulark1
Hi GMATNinja / JonShukhrat / MartyTargetTestPrep, would really appreciate the help on this one !

In the following question we see the following lines -> Historians believe that Leonardo da Vinci had painted, but left unfinished, a mural on the original wall; some historians had also believed that by 1563 the mural had been destroyed.

Could you please clarify the use of past perfect tense (had painted & had believed )here ?(since i thought past perfect tense is used when we need clarity on 2 past actions or it is used w.r.t to some time marker)

I can see that the following usage is fine w.r.t to time marker point as i said above ->
"by 1563 the mural had been destroyed"
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The past perfect "had painted" is correctly used to indicate that da Vinci's painting preceded an action mentioned in a previous sentence, Vasari's building a new wall.

The past perfect "had believed" may be meant to communicate that the historian's believing preceded an action mentioned in a previous sentence, the investigators' discovering a gap. However, since it's not clear that the historians changed their minds and ceased believing that the mural was destroyed once the investigators discovered the gap, the use of the past perfect "had believed" doesn't seem to make sense.
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In 1563, in Florence's Palazzo Vecchio, Giorgio Vasari built in front 06 Oct 2022, 21:59
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Quote:
In 1563, in Florence's Palazzo Vecchio, Giorgio Vasari built in front of an existing wall a new wall on which he painted a mural. Investigators recently discovered a gap between Vasari's wall and the original, large enough to have preserved anything painted on the original. Historians believe that Leonardo da Vinci had painted, but left unfinished, a mural on the original wall; some historians had also believed that by 1563 the mural had been destroyed. However, it is known that in the late 1560s, when renovating another building, Santa Maria Novella, Vasari built a façade over its frescoes, and the frescoes were thereby preserved. Thus, Leonardo's Palazzo Vecchio mural probably still exists behind Vasari's wall.

Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?

A. Leonardo rarely if ever destroyed artworks that he left unfinished.
B. Vasari was likely unaware that the mural in the Palazzo Vecchio had willingly been abandoned by Leonardo.
C. Vasari probably would not have built the Palazzo Vecchio wall with a gap behind it except to preserve something behind the new wall.
D. Leonardo would probably have completed the Palazzo Vecchio mural if he had had the opportunity to do so.
E. When Vasari preserved the frescoes of Santa Maria Novella he did so secretly.

We'll want to keep in mind that for assumption questions, we aren't just looking for something that adds validity to the argument, instead, we want something that must be true for the argument to make sense. So, if we break down the construction of the argument:

Premise: A gap has been discovered between Vasari's wall and the original wall
Premise: Da Vinci was believe to have painted, but left unfinished a mural on the original wall
Premise: In a different situation, Vasari built a facade that preserved the frescoes behind the facade
Conclusion: Leonardo's mural likely still exists behind the wall

We're looking for something that must be true to connect the use of the frescoes example to the assumed same use of the space between the walls. Here, we're assuming the space was set for the same reason as the facade over the fresnoes - to preserve what's behind it. Let's take a look at the answer choices!

A. Leonardo rarely if ever destroyed artworks that he left unfinished. <- this could be true, or could be false, and the argument could still stand, so it's not an assumption.
B. Vasari was likely unaware that the mural in the Palazzo Vecchio had willingly been abandoned by Leonardo. <- Again, whether or not this is true doesn't impact whether it makes sense to use the frescoes example and the existing space to conclude that the mural is likely still there.
C. Vasari probably would not have built the Palazzo Vecchio wall with a gap behind it except to preserve something behind the new wall. <- This one must be true for the argument to make sense. If Vasari built the wall with a gap for any other reason than to preserve something (the mural) behind it, it would no longer make sense to use the premises outlined above to draw the conclusion that the mural still likely exists.
D. Leonardo would probably have completed the Palazzo Vecchio mural if he had had the opportunity to do so. <- Again, irrelevant to us here. Could be true, could be false, doesn't impact our argument.
E. When Vasari preserved the frescoes of Santa Maria Novella he did so secretly. <- Whether or not Vasari preserved the frescoes secretly doesn't impact whether it makes sense to use that example to draw conclusions about the potential mural behind the wall.

So, in this case, answer (C) is the only one that must be true to connect the premises to the conclusion. If Vasari would have created the gap for any other reason than to preserve what was behind the wall, it wouldn't make sense to use that premise, and the example that he preserved the frescoes behind his facade to draw the conclusion that a mural likely exists behind the wall.

Keep in mind, several of these answer choices certainly strengthened in one way or another, but only one must be true for the argument to have the potential to be valid. Strengtheners can be some of the most convincing wrong answers for assumption questions. So, we can always test answer choices to the question "does this have to be true for the argument to make sense" (or, more directly, apply the negation technique) to differentiate between the correct answer, and convincing wrong answers.

Hope this helps! :)
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HaileyCusimano, GMATNinja
How do I know "However, it is known that in the late 1560s, when renovating another building, Santa Maria Novella, Vasari built a façade over its frescoes, and the frescoes were thereby preserved." this sentence means Vasari deliberately built that facade to protect the frescoes? Thanks!
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In 1563, in Florence's Palazzo Vecchio, Giorgio Vasari built in front 17 Oct 2022, 15:40
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How do I know "However, it is known that in the late 1560s, when renovating another building, Santa Maria Novella, Vasari built a façade over its frescoes, and the frescoes were thereby preserved." this sentence means Vasari deliberately built that facade to protect the frescoes? Thanks!
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As you suggest, the passage does not confirm that Vasari "deliberately built the facade to protect the frescoes." All we know was that in two cases, Vasari built facades with gaps large enough to preserve the frescoes. So why is (C) correct?

Notice the question asks for an "assumption on which the argument depends." Now, the passage argues that Leonardo's mural still exists. It reaches this conclusion by pointing out that Vasari built the facade with a big enough gap to preserve whatever was behind it. So to reach the conclusion that Leonardo's mural still exists, we'd need to assume that Vasari built the wall in order to protect something (i.e. Leonardo's fresco), which is exactly what (C) says.

If Vasari did NOT build the wall to protect something, we'd have no reason to believe that Leonardo's fresco was behind the wall when Vasari built it, and the argument would fall apart. So, since (C) is required for the argument to hold, it's correct.

I hope that helps!
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In 1563, in Florence's Palazzo Vecchio, Giorgio Vasari built in front Updated on: 18 Oct 2022, 09:45
Originally posted by jabhatta2 on 18 Oct 2022, 05:49.
Last edited by jabhatta2 on 18 Oct 2022, 09:45, edited 9 times in total.
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Hi avigutman GMATNinja HaileyCusimano

(1) In building 2 - is there any gap between the façade and frescoes ? My understand is - we dont know

(2) In the 2nd building - Santa Maria Novella - what exactly is preserving the frescoes ?
(a) Is it the placement of something over the frescoes that is giving frescoes the protection ?
or
(b) the gap between the façade and frescoes that is giving frescoes the protection
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In 1563, in Florence's Palazzo Vecchio, Giorgio Vasari built in front 18 Oct 2022, 06:05
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Step 1: Identify the Question

The word assumption in the question stem indicates that this is a Find the Assumption question.

Step 2: Deconstruct the Argument

1563: Giorgio Vasari (GV) builds new wall in front of old, paints mural

gap b/w walls, old mural saved?

some think: Leonardo da Vinci painted old mural, destroyed?

but: old mural saved in other building

© Leonardo da Vinci's mural probably preserved here

This argument includes a number of proper names, and avoiding confusion among them is critical to understanding it. The first part of the argument deals with a certain location, the Palazzo Vecchio (PV), in which Giorgio Vasari (GV) built a new wall and painted a mural. Some historians believe that there was already an existing mural in the Palazzo Vecchio (PV) , created by Leonardo da Vinci, and that this mural may have been destroyed.

However, the argument then mentions a second location, the Santa Maria Novella, in which murals were painted during the same era. In this location, Giorgio Vasari (GV) is known to have preserved the existing mural before painting his own. Therefore, the author concludes that this was likely the case at Palazzo Vecchio as well.

Step 3: Pause and State the Goal

On Find the Assumption questions, the goal is to identify an underlying assumption that must be true in order for the conclusion of the argument to make logical sense. The conclusion of this argument is that the Leonardo da Vinci mural at Palazzo Vecchio was preserved on the wall behind Giorgio Vasari (GV)'s mural. The right answer is something that must be true in order for this to be a believable claim.

Step 4: Work from Wrong to Right

(A) It does not have to be the case that Leonardo da Vinci rarely destroyed unfinished works. The argument only depends on the claim that he did not destroy the one specific mural at the Palazzo Vecchio , not on any claims about his typical behavior.

(B) Whether Giorgio Vasari (GV) knew (or believed) that Leonardo da Vinci had willingly abandoned the older mural does not necessarily have anything to do with whether the mural was preserved. Regardless of why Leonardo da Vinci abandoned the mural, and regardless of Giorgio Vasari (GV)'s beliefs regarding this, Giorgio Vasari (GV) still may or may not have decided to preserve the mural.

(C) CORRECT. The argument concludes, based solely on the presence of a gap between the walls, that the old mural must have been preserved. Therefore, the author is assuming there was no other possible reason for the gap to exist. Correspondingly, this answer choice implies that the only reason for Giorgio Vasari (GV) to build a new wall with a gap (as was the case at Palazzo Vecchio) was to preserve something on the old wall.

(D) Without more information, it is not clear how Leonardo da Vinci's intentions regarding the mural related to Giorgio Vasari (GV)'s decision on whether to preserve it. Regardless, Giorgio Vasari (GV) may not even have been aware of Leonardo da Vinci's intentions.

(E) The argument does not deal with whether the mural was preserved secretly or openly, but only with the question of whether it was preserved at all. The fact
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In 1563, in Florence's Palazzo Vecchio, Giorgio Vasari built in front 18 Oct 2022, 11:30
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jabhatta2
(1) In building 2 - is there any gap between the façade and frescoes ? My understand is - we dont know

(2) In the 2nd building - Santa Maria Novella - what exactly is preserving the frescoes ?
(a) Is it the placement of something over the frescoes that is giving frescoes the protection ?
or
(b) the gap between the façade and frescoes that is giving frescoes the protection
Show more
In a post like this, jabhatta2, it's helpful to include in a quote everything we know about building 2, like this:
Quote:
it is known that in the late 1560s, when renovating another building, Santa Maria Novella, Vasari built a façade over its frescoes, and the frescoes were thereby preserved
Show more
So, just based on that, was there a gap? We don't know.
But, going into your second question, I think it's important to look at another sentence from the argument:
Quote:
a gap between Vasari's wall and the original, large enough to have preserved anything painted on the original
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This implies that there exists some minimum gap size requirement for preservation, and therefore my answer to your second question is (b).
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In 1563, in Florence's Palazzo Vecchio, Giorgio Vasari built in front 19 Oct 2022, 07:45
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HaileyCusimano, GMATNinja
How do I know "However, it is known that in the late 1560s, when renovating another building, Santa Maria Novella, Vasari built a façade over its frescoes, and the frescoes were thereby preserved." this sentence means Vasari deliberately built that facade to protect the frescoes? Thanks!
As you suggest, the passage does not confirm that Vasari "deliberately built the facade to protect the frescoes." All we know was that in two cases, Vasari built facades with gaps large enough to preserve the frescoes. So why is (C) correct?

Notice the question asks for an "assumption on which the argument depends." Now, the passage argues that Leonardo's mural still exists. It reaches this conclusion by pointing out that Vasari built the facade with a big enough gap to preserve whatever was behind it. So to reach the conclusion that Leonardo's mural still exists, we'd need to assume that Vasari built the wall in order to protect something (i.e. Leonardo's fresco), which is exactly what (C) says.

If Vasari did NOT build the wall to protect something, we'd have no reason to believe that Leonardo's fresco was behind the wall when Vasari built it, and the argument would fall apart. So, since (C) is required for the argument to hold, it's correct.

I hope that helps!
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Hi GMATNinja - on the yellow highlight above - if i can push back gently

  • In building 2 [Santa Maria Novella]- Where is the proof that there is a gap between the facade and the fresco. I dont believe we can imply that from the argument ? There is certainly a gap between the walls in building 1 [Palazzo Vecchio] but there is no gap in building 2 [Santa Maria Novella]

Furthermore, on the blue font above - i have to push back gently

  • There is no proof to suggest that in building 2 - Vasari built a facade IN ORDER TO preserve/protect the fresco.
  • All we know is the fresco is protected as a result of the facade
  • Perhaps Vasari built the facade because constructing facades were fashionable at that time or Vattari just had a lot of extra money to burn and hence built the facade.
  • Then by luck or by chance -- the fresco behind the facade happened to get protected.
  • There is nothing in the argument that suggests that Vasari DELIBERATELY wanted to protect the fresco in building 2

The very last bullet point (made just above) is the reason why i am still skeptical about (c)

(c) only makes sense if
  • First, Vasari deliberately wanted to protect the fresco (by building a facade) in building 2 [Santa Maria Novella]
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In 1563, in Florence's Palazzo Vecchio, Giorgio Vasari built in front 20 Oct 2022, 21:07
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jabhatta2
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HaileyCusimano, GMATNinja
How do I know "However, it is known that in the late 1560s, when renovating another building, Santa Maria Novella, Vasari built a façade over its frescoes, and the frescoes were thereby preserved." this sentence means Vasari deliberately built that facade to protect the frescoes? Thanks!
As you suggest, the passage does not confirm that Vasari "deliberately built the facade to protect the frescoes." All we know was that in two cases, Vasari built facades with gaps large enough to preserve the frescoes. So why is (C) correct?

Notice the question asks for an "assumption on which the argument depends." Now, the passage argues that Leonardo's mural still exists. It reaches this conclusion by pointing out that Vasari built the facade with a big enough gap to preserve whatever was behind it. So to reach the conclusion that Leonardo's mural still exists, we'd need to assume that Vasari built the wall in order to protect something (i.e. Leonardo's fresco), which is exactly what (C) says.

If Vasari did NOT build the wall to protect something, we'd have no reason to believe that Leonardo's fresco was behind the wall when Vasari built it, and the argument would fall apart. So, since (C) is required for the argument to hold, it's correct.

I hope that helps!


Hi GMATNinja - on the yellow highlight above - if i can push back gently

  • In building 2 [Santa Maria Novella]- Where is the proof that there is a gap between the facade and the fresco. I dont believe we can imply that from the argument ? There is certainly a gap between the walls in building 1 [Palazzo Vecchio] but there is no gap in building 2 [Santa Maria Novella]

Furthermore, on the blue font above - i have to push back gently

  • There is no proof to suggest that in building 2 - Vasari built a facade IN ORDER TO preserve/protect the fresco.
  • All we know is the fresco is protected as a result of the facade
  • Perhaps Vasari built the facade because constructing facades were fashionable at that time or Vattari just had a lot of extra money to burn and hence built the facade.
  • Then by luck or by chance -- the fresco behind the facade happened to get protected.
  • There is nothing in the argument that suggests that Vasari DELIBERATELY wanted to protect the fresco in building 2

The very last bullet point (made just above) is the reason why i am still skeptical about (c)

(c) only makes sense if
  • First, Vasari deliberately wanted to protect the fresco (by building a facade) in building 2 [Santa Maria Novella]
Show more
You're correct that we don't know if Vasari deliberately built the wall to protect a fresco at Palazzo Vecchio (building 1). We just know that the gap there was "large enough to have preserved anything painted on the original." You're also correct that we don't know if there was a gap at Santa Maria Novella. We just know that the frescoes there were preserved.

So how does this all relate to (C)?

Well, keep in mind the question is just asking for an "assumption on which the argument depends." So the right answer doesn't need to definitively prove the argument true. It just needs to be necessary. Considering that, let's look at (C):

Quote:
Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?

C. Vasari probably would not have built the Palazzo Vecchio wall with a gap behind it except to preserve something behind the new wall.
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On its own, this doesn't prove that "Leonardo's Palazzo Vecchio mural probably still exists behind Vasari's wall." Maybe Vasari did build the gap to preserve something behind the wall, but it wasn't Leonardo's fresco? Or maybe Leonardo's fresco deteriorated for some other reason, despite the gap? So (C) doesn't come close to proving the argument correct. But is it necessary?

Well, what if we didn't assume (C)? What if Vasari built the wall with a gap for some other reason, besides preserving something behind it? Then the argument would fall apart. Because if he built the wall for some other reason (i.e. because facades were fashionable, as you suggest, among other possibilities), we'd have no reason to think there was a fresco there. And if that were the case, the conclusion that Leonardo's mural "still exists" would be demolished.

So although (C) isn't sufficient to prove the argument true, it is a necessary assumption, which makes it correct.

I hope that helps!
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In 1563, in Florence's Palazzo Vecchio, Giorgio Vasari built in front 20 Oct 2022, 22:09
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jabhatta2,
You're right that there is no proof about why Vasari built a facade, whether he built it IN ORDER TO preserve or protect the fresco. That is why (C) has the word 'probably'. I think the 'probably' helps to make (C) the right answer.

Quote:
C. Vasari probably would not have built the Palazzo Vecchio wall with a gap behind it except to preserve something behind the new wall.
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This is something the writer must have assumed. Otherwise why would he conclude that Leonardo's painting probably still exists?

We don't have to agree with the writer's assumption or conclusion. But the answer must explain how the writer jumped from the premise to the conclusion.

Quote:
Premise: in the late 1560s, when renovating another building, Santa Maria Novella, Vasari built a façade over its frescoes, and the frescoes were thereby preserved.

Assumption: ???

Conclusion: Thus, Leonardo's Palazzo Vecchio mural probably still exists behind Vasari's wall.
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In 1563, in Florence's Palazzo Vecchio, Giorgio Vasari built in front 09 Feb 2023, 00:47
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Can we all just agree that this is a badly written question by the OG? I mean, I've read all the "expert" explanations here and I think you are just post rationalizing the OA.
The reason I and many others think A also makes sense and C is not clear is because of the scope of the argument concept. The concluding sentence makes quite clear that the scope of this argument is focusing on whether the mural still exists ie. about it surviving or not.

A: if this assumption is true, then it is probable that the mural still exists, given all other premises given as well. And it shouldn't matter what Vasari's purpose in leaving a gap is, or? It's already given as a premise that the gap EXISTS.
If the assumptions is false, then it is probable that Leonardo destroys his own unfinished work => the conclusion is false. Again, the concluding sentence uses "probably" so this whole argument & assumption can include probability. Doesn't have to be 100% sure here.

C: I kinda get the point you experts are trying to say. But then you are forcing the argument be become "the mural probably survives BECAUSE Vasari left a gap with the only purpose being to protect it". What bugs me is that, the way they write it, it's not the main scope / focus. They are throwing an analogy / previous example to hint you towards 1 line of reasoning. But the conclusion is clearly just on whether the mural is there... and false analogy in itself is a type of GMAT reasoning error.

I think, without the OG forcing the answer down our throat, the explanation for why the answer is C is too weak.
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In 1563, in Florence's Palazzo Vecchio, Giorgio Vasari built in front 21 May 2023, 03:54
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The argument proposes that Leonardo da Vinci's unfinished mural likely still exists behind Vasari's wall in Palazzo Vecchio based on the discovery of a gap between the two walls. To strengthen this argument, we need to identify an assumption that supports the conclusion.

Among the options provided, (C) "Vasari probably would not have built the Palazzo Vecchio wall with a gap behind it except to preserve something behind the new wall" is the assumption that the argument depends on. If Vasari intentionally left a gap behind the wall, it suggests that he had a specific purpose for doing so, such as preserving something valuable or significant. This assumption supports the idea that Leonardo's mural was intentionally preserved by Vasari when constructing the new wall in Palazzo Vecchio.
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In 1563, in Florence's Palazzo Vecchio, Giorgio Vasari built in front 21 Jun 2023, 13:05
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Can someone help to negate option C ?

My negation: Vasari probably would not have built the Palazzo Vecchio wall with a gap behind it except to preserve something behind the new wall.

Is this negation correct? If so, how does this break the conclusion of the passage that Leonardo’s Palazzo Vecchio mural probably still exists behind Vasari’s wall?
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In 1563, in Florence's Palazzo Vecchio, Giorgio Vasari built in front 21 Jun 2023, 21:37
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CapnSal
Can someone help to negate option C ?

My negation: Vasari probably would not have built the Palazzo Vecchio wall with a gap behind it except to preserve something behind the new wall.

Is this negation correct? If so, how does this break the conclusion of the passage that Leonardo’s Palazzo Vecchio mural probably still exists behind Vasari’s wall?
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I think you have misunderstood Answer Choice C, which is the right answer:
C says "Vasari probably would not have built the Palazzo Vecchio wall with a gap behind it except to preserve something behind the new wall."

This is what Answer C means: "Vasari probably built the Palazzo Vecchio wall with a gap behind it in order to preserve something behind the new wall."

This is is the negation of Answer C:
"Vasari DID NOT BUILD the Palazzo Vecchio wall with a gap behind it to preserve something behind the new wall."

The premises and the negation are as follows:

Quote:
PREMISES:
In 1563, in Florence's Palazzo Vecchio, Giorgio Vasari built in front of an existing wall a new wall on which he painted a mural.
Investigators recently discovered a gap between Vasari's wall and the original, large enough to have preserved anything painted on the original.
Historians believe that Leonardo da Vinci had painted, but left unfinished, a mural on the original wall; some historians had also believed that by 1563 the mural had been destroyed.
However, it is known that in the late 1560s, when renovating another building, Santa Maria Novella, Vasari built a façade over its frescoes, and the frescoes were thereby preserved.

NEGATION OF C:
Vasari DID NOT BUILD the Palazzo Vecchio wall with a gap behind it to preserve something behind the new wall.
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Now, do we have any reason to think that "Leonardo's Palazzo Vecchio mural probably still exists behind Vasari's wall"?

None at all, proving that Answer C is a necessary assumption.

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In 1563, in Florence's Palazzo Vecchio, Giorgio Vasari built in front 01 Sep 2023, 04:15
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Bunuel
In 1563, in Florence's Palazzo Vecchio, Giorgio Vasari built in front of an existing wall a new wall on which he painted a mural. Investigators recently discovered a gap between Vasari's wall and the original, large enough to have preserved anything painted on the original. Historians believe that Leonardo da Vinci had painted, but left unfinished, a mural on the original wall; some historians had also believed that by 1563 the mural had been destroyed. However, it is known that in the late 1560s, when renovating another building, Santa Maria Novella, Vasari built a façade over its frescoes, and the frescoes were thereby preserved. Thus, Leonardo's Palazzo Vecchio mural probably still exists behind Vasari's wall.

Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?

A. Leonardo rarely if ever destroyed artworks that he left unfinished.
B. Vasari was likely unaware that the mural in the Palazzo Vecchio had willingly been abandoned by Leonardo.
C. Vasari probably would not have built the Palazzo Vecchio wall with a gap behind it except to preserve something behind the new wall.
D. Leonardo would probably have completed the Palazzo Vecchio mural if he had had the opportunity to do so.
E. When Vasari preserved the frescoes of Santa Maria Novella he did so secretly.


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This question reminded me of an older official question - https://gmatclub.com/forum/networks-of- ... l#p1916568
Knowing the structure of that helped me evaluate this very quickly. The two do have a very similar structure and this is a prime example of why evaluating all official questions very well is extremely important. I have discussed them both here:

https://youtu.be/ZQnhC4d5ODU
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In 1563, in Florence's Palazzo Vecchio, Giorgio Vasari built in front 22 Sep 2024, 22:39
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Bunuel
In 1563, in Florence's Palazzo Vecchio, Giorgio Vasari built in front of an existing wall a new wall on which he painted a mural. Investigators recently discovered a gap between Vasari's wall and the original, large enough to have preserved anything painted on the original. Historians believe that Leonardo da Vinci had painted, but left unfinished, a mural on the original wall; some historians had also believed that by 1563 the mural had been destroyed. However, it is known that in the late 1560s, when renovating another building, Santa Maria Novella, Vasari built a façade over its frescoes, and the frescoes were thereby preserved. Thus, Leonardo's Palazzo Vecchio mural probably still exists behind Vasari's wall.

Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?

A. Leonardo rarely if ever destroyed artworks that he left unfinished.
B. Vasari was likely unaware that the mural in the Palazzo Vecchio had willingly been abandoned by Leonardo.
C. Vasari probably would not have built the Palazzo Vecchio wall with a gap behind it except to preserve something behind the new wall.
D. Leonardo would probably have completed the Palazzo Vecchio mural if he had had the opportunity to do so.
E. When Vasari preserved the frescoes of Santa Maria Novella he did so secretly.


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My take -
Situation 1 (building) : Vasari built with an intent of protection. F preserved.
Situation 2 (wall) : Vasari built. Therefore, M preserved.

Assumption : Intent of protection in 2nd case. Ans C.
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In 1563, in Florence's Palazzo Vecchio, Giorgio Vasari built in front 15 May 2025, 06:35
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a - Leonardo sometimes destroyed it. The mural could still survive; gap evidence unchanged.
b - awareness doesn’t affect the reasoning.
c - without even negating, this says that V left it there because he knew what was behind - this makes total sense. now, negatig it: Vasari might build such gaps for other reasons (ventilation, stability, etc.). Then the Palazzo gap no longer implies preservation; the conclusion collapses.
d - He might not have. Whether the mural was completed has no bearing on whether a gap preserves it.
e - He did it openly. Palazzo inference still holds.
Bunuel
In 1563, in Florence's Palazzo Vecchio, Giorgio Vasari built in front of an existing wall a new wall on which he painted a mural. Investigators recently discovered a gap between Vasari's wall and the original, large enough to have preserved anything painted on the original. Historians believe that Leonardo da Vinci had painted, but left unfinished, a mural on the original wall; some historians had also believed that by 1563 the mural had been destroyed. However, it is known that in the late 1560s, when renovating another building, Santa Maria Novella, Vasari built a façade over its frescoes, and the frescoes were thereby preserved. Thus, Leonardo's Palazzo Vecchio mural probably still exists behind Vasari's wall.

Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?

A. Leonardo rarely if ever destroyed artworks that he left unfinished.
B. Vasari was likely unaware that the mural in the Palazzo Vecchio had willingly been abandoned by Leonardo.
C. Vasari probably would not have built the Palazzo Vecchio wall with a gap behind it except to preserve something behind the new wall.
D. Leonardo would probably have completed the Palazzo Vecchio mural if he had had the opportunity to do so.
E. When Vasari preserved the frescoes of Santa Maria Novella he did so secretly.


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