X-ray examination of a recently discovered painting—judged by some aut

Question

X-ray examination of a recently discovered painting—judged by some authorities to be a self-portrait by Vincent van Gogh—revealed an underimage of a woman’s face. Either van Gogh or another painter covered the first painting with the portrait now seen on the surface of the canvas. Because the face of the woman in the underimage also appears on canvases van Gogh is known to have painted, the surface painting must be an authentic self-portrait by van Gogh.

The conclusion is properly drawn if which of the following is assumed?

A) If a canvas already bears a painted image produced by an artist, a second artist who uses the canvas to produce a new painting tends to be influenced by the style of the first artist.
B) Many painted canvases that can be reliably attributed to van Gogh contain underimages of subjects that appear on at least one other canvas that van Gogh is known to have painted.
C) Any painted canvas incorrectly attributed to van Gogh would not contain an underimage of a subject that appears in authentic paintings by that artist.
D) A painted canvas cannot be reliably attributed to an artist unless the authenticity of any underimage that painting might contain can be reliably attributed to the artist.
E) A painted canvas cannot be reliably attributed to a particular artist unless a reliable x-ray examination of the painting is performed

sweetkriti · Accepted Answer

In the argument presented, X-ray of painting reveals presence of underimage of women. He further makes conclusion that Because another painting that has similar kind of underimage, we can safely say that Original painting in question was painted by Van Gogh. Now to make this conclusion author must assume that(pre-thinking):
This is painting style that is only used by Van Gogh.
Keeping this in mind lets analyze options:
Quick analysis:
A. Naaaahhhh
B. May be 
C. May be
D. This doesn't talks about if we can relate the painting in question to Van gogh or not. This is just a fact statement. So I won't pick this.
E. No.

Because B C are very close, we must call negation technique to finalize options.
Negate B:  (None/less that 50%)  painted canvases that can be reliably attributed to van Gogh contain underimages of subjects that appear on at least one other canvas that van Gogh is known to have painted.
If None of the paintings, which belong to Van Gogh, contains underimage: then conclusion breaks.....It is good
Just because we have "many paintings" written in option, there is another possibility to be evaluated: if some i.e. 1 or 2 paintings that is attributed to Van Gogh contains underimage, Conclusions strengthens....Nope This can not be our assumption.

Negate C:
Any painted canvas incorrectly attributed to van Gogh would contain an underimage of a subject that appears in authentic paintings by that artist.
So, if other artist paintings also contains underimage, my conclusion breaks. This must be my answer.

ArkadipSengupta@gmail.com · Answer

Looks like its C.

With negation the option transforms to :-

Any painted canvas " correctly " attributed to van Gogh would not contain an underimage of a subject that appears in authentic paintings by that artist.

This dumps the conclusion. So its C for me.

Sorrow · Answer

It's C.
Basically it's saying that any painting that contains an underimage of a subject that appears in authentic paintings by von gogh can always be correctly attributed to van gogh.

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Pas4867 · Answer

A is irrelevant. B and C are good possibilities. D is just a fact statement, E is too specific.

Out of B and C, I think C is the correct answer. If we use neagation, the option becomes- “Any painting correctly attributed to Van Gogh would not contain an underimage of an image that appears in authentic paintings by that artist. This dumps the conclusion.

Rashed12 · Answer

I did not understand the premises of CR. Would anyone help me to figure out the CR? It would be my great pleasure if anyone help me on the issue.

Posted from my mobile device

outazi · Answer

Option B cannot be correct because the passage says "Canvases" meaning at least 2. But option B says at least 1.

The correct opposite of option C is "any painted canvas correctly attributed to Van Gogh will contain an underimage of a subject that appears in authentic paintings by Van Gogh

Posted from my mobile device

VerbalBot · Answer

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X-ray examination of a recently discovered painting—judged by some aut

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GMAT Critical Reasoning (CR) Questions

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