Cézanne’s art inspired the next generation of artists,
twentieth-century modernist creators of abstract art.
While most experts rank Cézanne as an early
modernist, a small few reject this idea. Françoise
Cachin, for example, bluntly states that such an
ascription is “overplayed,” and says that Cézanne’s
work is “too often observed from a modern point of
view.”

Which one of the following statements is most
strongly supported by the information above?

(A) Cézanne’s work is highly controversial.
(B) Cézanne was an early creator of abstract art.
(C) Cézanne’s work helped to develop modernism.
(D) Modern art owes less to Cézanne than many
experts believe.
(E) Cézanne’s work tends to be misinterpreted as
modernist.
OA:After discussion

(C) Cézanne’s work helped to develop modernism.
Because Cezanne's art "inspired...the modernist creators of abstract art" this choice must be true.

At this point, we would stop and choose C, but let's look at the other choices. Choices D and E can be eliminated in one fell swoop: although we learn what most experts believe and that a small few disagree with them, we never actually learn the author's position. Therefore, these choices could easily be false.

How can 'C' be true? Isnt that objected by a few people?

Hi mehravikas,

in inference questions, you can also use the Kaplan denial test. If choice C were false, would any portion of the passage become falsified?

Well, if choice C were false--if he did not help to develop modernism--then what happens to the first sentence in the passage, thathe "inspired...modernist creators of abstract art"? Clearly, if choice C were false, then this first sentence would be false. But in inference questions, we have to treat the passage as a set of (true) facts. Therefore, choice must be true.

Hi mehravikas,

in inference questions, you can also use the Kaplan denial test. If choice C were false, would any portion of the passage become falsified?

Well, if choice C were false--if he did not help to develop modernism--then what happens to the first sentence in the passage, thathe "inspired...modernist creators of abstract art"? Clearly, if choice C were false, then this first sentence would be false. But in inference questions, we have to treat the passage as a set of (true) facts. Therefore, choice must be true.