Various goods brought into America have been taxed over the years, but

Question

Various goods brought into America have been taxed over the years, but the art tariff of 1883 forced policy-makers to examine the status of art in society and the idea of art as a commodity. The tariff, which was vehemently opposed by both European and American artists, increased levies on all artworks imported to America, which, for all practical purposes, lumped them into the category of luxury items. Opposition to the tariff rested largely on the idea that a work of art could not be classified as a luxury item and thus should not be subject to tax. Instead, opponents considered art an instrument of culture and an essential element of public education.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously undermines the justification for the art tariff?

(A) Art imports were taxed to help pay for the Civil War.

(B) Most art collectors donated their works to museums.

(C) Most artworks imported to America were purchased by private collectors.

(D) The status of art as a material object distinguishes it from music.

(E) Works by contemporary artists were excluded from the tax.

IanStewart · Accepted Answer

They justify the tax by saying art belongs "in the category of luxury items". The end of the stem really directs us to the right answer, when it describes the cultural and educational value of art. If collectors donate the art they buy to museums, so that the art becomes accessible to a wide public, that makes art unlike other luxury items -- that's not what people usually do when they buy yachts or jewelry. So the answer is B.

Aravind04 · Answer

In My opinion Answer is Option E
Works by contemporary artists were excluded from the tax, as it provides a basis for Waver/exclusion of Paintings from "art tariff "

ASRV · Answer

what's the issue with E ? 
If work by contemporary artists is not taxed then how can one justify taxing art otherwise.

dendenden · Answer

I think E is not the correct answer since it only excludes contemporary artists. What about artists from the renaissance or other art periods? If these are taxed then they will be considered as luxury items. Hence B is the correct answer.

IanStewart · Answer

I didn't mention this in my earlier post, but the problem with the question is that we're asked to "undermine the justification for the tariff", but we're never told what the justification for the tariff is. So we have no idea what justification we're trying to undermine. I assumed the justification we're meant to infer is "art is like other luxury items, and should be taxed in the same way", though the question never says that. Then B is the answer, because B tells us that art is not like other luxury items. And if that's the justification, E is not the answer, because the justification can still be valid even if some types of art are exempt from the tariff. Maybe some types of art don't sell for enough money to make the administration of a tariff on those types of art worthwhile. It still might be justifiable to consider art that does sell at luxury prices as a luxury item.

amagovernor · Answer

exactly. This is the precise issue I have with this question. We were never given the justification for the art tariff so how do we know what to undermine/weaken?

Various goods brought into America have been taxed over the years, but

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