Although elementary school children have traditionally received consid

Question

Although elementary school children have traditionally received considerable instruction in creating visual art, there has been no such instruction in music. Consequently, in contrast to the situation for visual art, most people as adults do not recognize the artistic intention of composers. To remedy this situation, a few educators now recommend teaching elementary schools students to compose music.

Which of the following, if true, is the strongest basis for arguing that implementation of the recommendation will not lead to the desired result?

A. Few elementary schools students are likely to create superior compositions.

B. Traditional education facilitates the appreciation of visual art, but not the recognition of the artistic intentions of artists.

C. More people report that they enjoy music than report that they enjoy visual art.

D. Some composers have had little formal instruction in composition.

E. The recommendation is based on the results of a controlled longitudinal study conducted in three schools within a single city.

CR60561.01

GMATIntensive · Accepted Answer

The Story     
 Although elementary school children have traditionally received considerable instruction in creating visual art, there has been no such instruction in music.  - Traditionally, elementary school children have received instruction in creating visual art but not in music.

Consequently, in contrast to the situation for visual art, most people as adults do not recognize the artistic intentions of composers.  - The author goes on to relate the lack of instruction to an outcome: most people as adults do not recognize the artistic intentions of composers, while they do recognize the artistic intentions of visual artists.

To remedy this situation, a few educators now recommend teaching elementary school students to compose music.  - In order to get adults to recognize artistic intentions of composers, a few educators recommend adding music in the elementary school curriculum.

Gist:   In order to get adults to recognize the artistic intentions of composers (goal), some educators recommend teaching elementary school students to compose music (plan).
   Their basis is that elementary school children have received instruction in creating visual art and most people as adults recognize the artistic intentions of visual artists. And on the other hand, elementary school children have not received instruction in composing music and most people as adults do not recognize the artistic intentions of music composers (support).

The Gap     
The educators recommend something for music that they think worked for visual art. There are two clear gaps in the argument.

Firstly, there is no certainty this worked for visual art. Instruction in school may or may not have been responsible for people’s ability to recognize the artistic intentions of visual art. It is not necessary that the two are ‘causally’ related. The two facts (children receiving instruction in visual art and children recognizing the artistic intention in visual art) might simply be coincidental or correlated without any causation.

This is a very common flaw seen in Critical Reasoning arguments.

Two seemingly related events, let’s call them X and Y, and then the author concludes that X must have caused Y. It is not necessary that the two are causally related. E.g. it is possible that 
  both X and Y are caused by something else 
 it is just a coincidence that X and Y happened together 
 even if there is a causal relationship, it may be reversed - i.e. Y caused X.

Secondly, just ‘cause something worked for visual art, it is not necessary that it will work for music as well. The way people process the two might be very different.

The Goal     
Highlighting either of the two gaps will get the job done. Of course, there could be other ways also to show that teaching elementary school students to compose music will not lead to people recognizing the artistic intentions of composers. We, here, were able to come up with two.

The Evaluation     
 A. Few elementary school students are likely to create superior compositions. 
  Incorrect  . Whether elementary school students create superior compositions has no bearing on whether those students will go on to ‘recognize’ the artistic intentions of composers once they are adults.

B. Traditional education facilitates the appreciation of visual art, but not the recognition of the artistic intentions of artists. 
  Correct  . Traditional education does not facilitate the recognition of artistic intentions. Thus, the two facts - the students being given instruction in creating visual art and most people as adults recognizing the artistic intentions - are not causally related. So, to recommend the same approach for music does not make sense.

C. More people report that they enjoy music than report that they enjoy visual art. 
  Incorrect  . How many people enjoy music or how that number compares with the number of people who enjoy visual art has no impact on the argument. There is no relationship of enjoyment of the arts with either instruction in school or the ability to recognize artistic intentions.

D. Some composers have had little formal instruction in composition. 
  Incorrect  . The argument is about the listener’s ability to discern artistic intent, and how that can be enhanced. The level of formal instruction that some ‘composers’ have undergone has no impact on either facet.

E. The recommendation is based on the results of a controlled longitudinal study conducted in three schools within a single city. 
  Incorrect  . This option says that the study was ‘controlled’ and ‘longitudinal’. These lead us to believe that the study was thorough. If anything, this strengthens the argument.

Moreover, the option talks about the number of schools in which the study was conducted. We do not have any basis to conclude that the number of schools is too few. Thus, this option does not help weaken the argument.

Additional Notes     
The author states that the second statement is a ‘consequence’ of the first statement. Now, whether this relationship between the first and the second statement should be taken as a fact or as an opinion of the author is open for debate. Since the correct option B in this question challenges this relationship, we can say that the relationship was meant to be taken as an opinion of the author.

If you have any doubts regarding any part of this solution, please feel free to ask.

ChrisLele · Answer

The argument calls for making music education part of the elementary school curriculum. Why? In order for adults to discern the artistic intentions behind composers. The basis for this conclusion: elementary schools currently teach visual art to students. The missing link here is that the visual arts education students receive helps them, later in life, to discern the artistic motivations of visual artists. Without this nugget of information the argument does not hold true.

A) Few elementary schools students are likely to create superior compositions.

The argument focuses on the ability of adults to discern a composer's intent.

B) Traditional education facilitates the appreciation of visual art, but not the recognition of the artistic intentions of artists. ANSWER

This answer choice here addresses the fact that learning about visual art and understanding a composer's intention are not the same. Were a simple visual arts education sufficient for understanding a visual artist's intent, then the proposed plan of instituting a music curriculum would make more sense.

C) More people report that they enjoy music than report that they enjoy visual art.

Does not relate to the argument.

D) Some composers have had little formal instruction in composition.

Out of scope.

E) The recommendation is based on the results of a controlled longitudinal study conducted in three schools within a single city.

While suggesting a limited sample size, this answer choice does not address the assumption in the argument.

MartyTargetTestPrep · Answer

This question is flawed.

Consider the following statements from the passage:

Although elementary school children have traditionally received considerable instruction in creating visual art, there has been no such instruction in music. Consequently, in contrast to the situation for visual art, most people as adults do not recognize the artistic intention of composes.

The implications of those statements are:

People recognize the artistic intentions of visual artists but not those of composers.

The reason for this difference is traditional visual arts eductation.

The OA says that traditional visual arts education does not facilitate recognition of artists' intentions.

If what the OA says is correct, then traditional visual arts education would not be the reason for the difference in recognition of intentions.

Thus, the OA is in conflict with the implications of the first two statements in the passage.

vishwaprakash · Answer

Argument :
most people as adults do not recognize the artistic intention of composes. To overcome the problem, few educators now recommend teaching elementary schools students to compose music.

Prethinking :
we have to find option which raises doubt on the validity of plan. Anything which say either the plan is not possible or plan wont have desired effect.

POE
A) Few elementary schools students are likely to create superior compositions.
Incorrect - Out of scope. How students create composition will not address the problem in plate.

B) Traditional education facilitates the appreciation of visual art, but not the recognition of the artistic intentions of artists.
Correct - This make sense. It say implementation of plan will not give desired result, since traditional system is not supportive. Make sense as weakner

C) More people report that they enjoy music than report that they enjoy visual art.
Incorrect - Out of scope. It talks about Students liking does not talk about the validity of plan

D) Some composers have had little formal instruction in composition.
Incorrect - Argument is concern about "most people as adults do not recognize the artistic intention of composes" not about formal instruction in composition.

E) The recommendation is based on the results of a controlled longitudinal study conducted in three schools within a single city
Incorrect - Opposite effect. It says that, recommendation is well studied. this information (if at else) may act as strengthener not as weakener.

Answer : B

gmatt1476 · Answer

Official Explanation

Evaluation of a Plan

Which answer choice most suggests that implementing the recommendation will not lead to the desired result?

Most elementary school children receive education in creating visual art but no education in composing music. Although most adults recognize the artist's intentions in a work of visual art, the same is not true for most adults' ability to recognize the composer's intentions in a piece of music. Based on these facts, it is advocated that elementary school children be taught to compose music.

It is important to note that we are not told that most adults are able to recognize an artist's intentions specifically because of elementary-level instruction in creating visual art.

A. The goal of the recommendation is not for elementary school students to create superior compositions in music.

B. Correct. This indicates that traditional education in visual art—including, presumably, such education for elementary school students—does not generally result in ability to recognize the artistic intentions of artists. By analogy, the recommended education in music composition would be unlikely to lead to a recognition of the artistic intentions of composers.

C. Ability to enjoy music or visual art does not necessarily imply the ability to recognize the artistic intentions of visual artists or composers.

D. Composers' formal instruction is entirely irrelevant to the recommendation as well as to whether the recommendation achieves its intended purpose.

E. This suggests that the recommendation is based on scientifically collected data. That does not suggest that the recommendation would fail to achieve its intended purpose.

The correct answer is B.

VijayShanker · Answer

Thanks for sharing this. I feel the same as below lines are not in sync with OA.

Consequently, in contrast to the situation for visual art, most people as adults do not recognize the artistic intention of composes.

ballest127 · Answer

Hi  MartyTargetTestPrep ,

Thank you for your kind explanation.

You made some interesting point.
And I try to understand your point.

However, I'm still not completely understand.
You mentioned that the implications of these statements are:

1.People recognize the artistic intentions of visual artists but not those of composers.
2.The  reason  for this difference is traditional visual arts eductation.

That's why you can conclude that the OA conflicts with the statement given,right?

But I cannot see where in the passage that states that the traditional visual arts education is  what cause the difference : the reason that people understand the intention of the visual art.
In my opinion, it is rather just a correlation, not a causation.

Please explain what I miss.
Thank you very much.

ravigupta2912 · Answer

Was a close call between B and E. Went for B because it is a stronger basis to weaken the claim as it directly impacted the conclusion through new information that suggests that traditional education would have 0 impact on "recognition" on the artistic intention of artists.

MartyTargetTestPrep · Answer

You missed the word "consquently," which means that the events mentioned in the clause that follows "consquently" are the effects, or consequences, of the events mentioned in the sentence that precedes "consequently."

By using the connector "consequently," the passage conveys that there is a cause-and-effect relationship.

OhMy · Answer

I still have a problem with seeing how  B)  is the correct answer.

We are told, that for visual art, creating art is taught in elementary school. But composition of music is not taught.
And people recognize artistic intention in art, but not in music.
B) tells us that appreciation of visual art is taught, and 'recognition of the intentions of the artist' is not directly taught.

But how does B) mean, that teaching composition of music will  not lead to  the recognition of intentions in music?
Seems too far of an assumption to me. Just because 'recognition of the intentions of the artist' in visual art is not directly taught, does that not mean: adults do not learn this 'recognition of the intentions of the artist' through learning in elementary school about creating art themselves.
So why should learning composing music in elementary school necessarily go wrong in learning to recognize the intentions of the music artist?

Am i missing something?

ksht · Answer

I have doubt between choice B and E. 
It is given in the stimulus that -  'Consequently, in contrast to the situation for visual art ' - so it means that although recognizing the artistic intentions is not taught, but as visual art is taught, people tend to understand the artistic intention. So education of visual art is ultimately helping in recognizing intentions. B doesn't weaken the argument.
On the other hand E questions the data that people are understanding visual art and not composing, so E tends to weaken.
Please point out the mistake in my approach.
Thanks in advance !  GMATNinja   VeritasKarishma

Yellkrishna · Answer

Since children aren’t taught music as they are taught art, Adults cannot recognise artistic intentions of composers———-> teach to compose music in schools.

This is a composition fallacy and/or False Dichotomy. Taking one small group and then jumping to judgments. There could be other reasons.

What if teaching composing music in elementary schools doesn’t help. Or something on those lines. 
Since there has been a jump to conclusion, there could be other factors .

A. The quality of composition is not being discussed

B. Since on the basis of visual arts having been taught in schools does the author conclude that they are able to understand the intentions of artists, this option undermines that assumption. It says that understanding intentions of artists is not taught. Implying that such an ability was not taught in schools. Hence, we cannot further build on the statement.

C. Enjoyment is out of scope.

D. The issue is about understanding composers, not becoming them.

E. While this might undermine the first premise, that students learn or not in schools, the second premise that adults cannot understand music composition still stands. It doesn’t weaken the argument entirely.

Posted from my mobile device

KarishmaB · Answer

There are two different parameters here:

Children have traditionally received considerable instruction in creating visual art , - Children have been taught to CREATE visual art.
 there has been no such instruction in music  - Children have not been taught to compose music
 Consequently, in contrast to the situation for visual art,  - Adults recognise artistic INTENTION of visual artists
 most people as adults do not recognize the artistic intention of composers  - Adults do not recognise artistic INTENTION of composers

To remedy this situation, a few educators now recommend teaching elementary schools students to compose music.  - Teach COMPOSING music to kids and as adults, they will recognize the artistic INTENTION of composers

A. Few elementary schools students are likely to create superior compositions.

Who will create superior compositions is irrelevant.

B. Traditional education facilitates the appreciation of visual art, but not the recognition of the artistic intentions of artists.

Traditional education (creating visual art) teaches appreciation of visual art but it doesn't teach recognition of artistic INTENTION. So it is not education that helps adults recognise artistic intention of artists. Education has nothing to do with it. Adults recognise artistic intention of artists perhaps because it is a skill people are born with or some other reason. But, education is not the reason. 
Then it becomes likely that if you teach kids to compose music, it may teach them to appreciate music but not facilitate recognising intention of composers. Education teaches appreciation, not recognition of intention.

C. More people report that they enjoy music than report that they enjoy visual art.

Irrelevant

D. Some composers have had little formal instruction in composition.

Whether composers have education or not is irrelevant. The point is what skill do people who have education have.

E. The recommendation is based on the results of a controlled longitudinal study conducted in three schools within a single city.

The recommendation may be based on the author's opinion only, or on a study involving 3 schools or on a study involving every school in the country - it is irrelevant. We need to find a reason why the recommendation may not have the desired effect.

Answer (B)

ksht · Answer

Thanks a lot VeritasKarishma for your explanation. I really enjoy reading posts by you, especially related to Quant theory. Those posts have helped me a lot in better understanding of some really nice concepts. Thanks again

Krishishere · Answer

Although elementary school children have traditionally received considerable instruction in creating visual art, there has been no such instruction in music. Consequently, in contrast to the situation for visual art, most people as adults do not recognize the artistic intention of composers. To remedy this situation, a few educators now recommend teaching elementary schools students to compose music.

Which of the following, if true, is the strongest basis for arguing that implementation of the recommendation will not lead to the desired result?

Here the conclusion is in question stem and not in stimulus.

Read the stimulus now :
Although elementary school children have traditionally received considerable instruction in creating visual art, there has been no such instruction in music. Consequently, in contrast to the situation for visual art, most people as adults do not recognize the artistic intention of composers. To remedy this situation, a few educators now recommend teaching elementary schools students to compose music. However, the recommendation will not lead to the desired result.

The author of paragraph intends to conclude that the implementation of suggestion will not yield desired result. Why does he say so? Let us find.

A. Few elementary schools students are likely to create superior compositions.
Irrelevent
B. Traditional education facilitates the appreciation of visual art, but not the recognition of the artistic intentions of artists.
Yes, perfect. 
C. More people report that they enjoy music than report that they enjoy visual art.
Irrelevant
D. Some composers have had little formal instruction in composition.
Irrelevant
E. The recommendation is based on the results of a controlled longitudinal study conducted in three schools within a single city.
Out of scope

Option B is correct

WeWillGetIn · Answer

This question is not flawed. They key word in correct answer B is: facilitate. It means that the education of visual art does not help people to recognize the authors. Therefore, the plan will not work because learning composing music will not help student to recognize the authors. It also means that people recognize authors in visual art not because of their education. Maybe the visual art are more straightforward than music? Hope it helps！

thecoronafever · Answer

VeritasKarishma : I did not understand what is this phrase  "in contrast to the situation for visual art"  in the following sentence conveys:
 Consequently, in contrast to the situation for visual art, most people as adults do not recognize the artistic intention of composers.

Does it not mean that most people as adults do not recognize artistic intention of composer but they are able to recognize the artistic intention of artists?

thecoronafever · Answer

Got it now. This one's tricky. I thought that the option (B) is conveying that people are not able to recognize artistic intention of artists but it's not what the choice conveys. It conveys that traditional instruction of creating visual arts does not help build those skills. So, even if it is used for music, it does not guarantee that results will be achieved.

KarishmaB · Answer

Yes, exactly. It tells you that most people do not recognise the artistic intention of composers and this is in contrast to the situation for visual art. Then, people must be able to recognise the artistic intention of the creator of visual art (paintings etc)

Although elementary school children have traditionally received consid

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GMAT Critical Reasoning (CR) Questions

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