BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem
TTP OnDemand GMAT Video Course
Featured Course

Target Test Prep GMAT OnDemand

Scott Woodbury-Stewart’s private virtual classroom — 400 hours of master-class video lessons for the GMAT Focus Edition.

  • 715+ score guarantee — highest in the industry (99th percentile)
  • 52 chapters · 1,500+ lessons · 4,000+ practice questions
  • 400 hours of video · 1,500+ instructor-led HD smartboard lessons
  • 300,000+ students accepted to Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Booth & Sloan & more
  • 24/7 live support + weekly Zoom office hours with GMAT instructors
  • TTP AI Assist — 24/7 AI-powered virtual tutor for instant help
  • 1,200+ flashcards + AI-powered study assistant & daily calendar
  • OnDemand, LiveTeach & GMAT Bootcamp formats available
  • Also: GRE, SAT Math & Executive Assessment courses
  • MBA Admissions Consulting now available
  • 🏆 2025 EdTech Breakthrough Award: Test Prep Solution Provider of the Year
  • 200,000+ students served
  • 5-day free trial — $0 to start, no auto-billing, cancel anytime
★★★★★ 5.0 (559 reviews)
130-pt guarantee
$0 to start then $127/mo
Start Free 5-Day Trial Read 559 Reviews →

Assumption question

Expert replies
Post new topic Post Reply
Previous Topic Next Topic
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 100
Joined: Tue Jan 29, 2008 12:08 amFollowed by: 1 member
Location: INDIA
Thanked: 3 times
by dextar » Tue Apr 08, 2008 8:15 pm
In recent years, many cabinetmakers have been winning acclaim as artists. But since furniture must be used, cabinetmakers must exercise their craft with an eye to the practical utility of the product. For this reason, cabinetmaking is not art.

Which of the following is an assumption that supports the conclusion?

An object is not an art object if its makers pay attention to the objects practical utility

Shouldn't it be
An object is not an art object if its makers don't pay attention to the objects practical utility

because line no 2 'But since furniture must be used, cabinetmakers must exercise their craft with an eye to the practical utility of the product' assumes that the present cabinetmakers don't pay attention to the practical utility of the product.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Source: — Critical Reasoning |
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 566
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2008 11:01 am
Location: Philadelphia
Thanked: 31 times
GMAT Score:640

Re: Assumption question

by AleksandrM » Wed Apr 09, 2008 9:03 am
dextar wrote:In recent years, many cabinetmakers have been winning acclaim as artists. But since furniture must be used, cabinetmakers must exercise their craft with an eye to the practical utility of the product. For this reason, cabinetmaking is not art.

Which of the following is an assumption that supports the conclusion?

An object is not an art object if its makers pay attention to the objects practical utility

Shouldn't it be
An object is not an art object if its makers don't pay attention to the objects practical utility

because line no 2 'But since furniture must be used, cabinetmakers must exercise their craft with an eye to the practical utility of the product' assumes that the present cabinetmakers don't pay attention to the practical utility of the product.
The passage is an argument of the author. He is saying that there are some other - let's assume other art critics - who consider the work of cabinetmakers art. However, the author - perhaps another art critic - is saying that he disagrees that it is art, because furniture has a utility function, which - he considers - disqualifies it from being art.

Therefore, if the makers DON'T pay attention to an object's practical utility, then it is indeed an art object. If they DO, then it is NOT.

It seems to me that you were mislead by the first part of the passage, which summarizes a point of view held by others. However, you are asked to pay attention to the conclusion, which is drawn by the author of the passage.

Hope I did not confuse you too much.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 83
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2008 9:05 pmFollowed by: 2 members
Thanked: 21 times

by rey.fernandez » Wed Apr 09, 2008 11:26 am
I agree with AleksandrM.

This CR assumption problem is the kind in which the conclusion ("Cabinetmaking is not art.") is stated rather abruptly. Between the second and third sentences, there is a logical gap: just because furniture must be used and cabinetmakers have to keep utility in mind, can we immediately conclude that cabinetmaking is not art?

Not quite yet... we need another piece of information that bridges the gap -- a premise that tells us that objects created with utility in mind cannot be art objects. "An object is not an art object if its makers pay attention to the objects practical utility" serves this role nicely. Notice now how the conclusion flows cleanly from this premise.

In general, assumption questions that have an argument containing a logical gap (usually signaled by an abrupt conclusion) will require a premise that will fill in that gap.

Rey
Rey Fernandez
Instructor
Manhattan GMAT
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 71
Joined: Sun Apr 06, 2008 2:24 pm
Thanked: 1 times

by cjiang16 » Thu Apr 10, 2008 1:16 pm
Yes, AleksandrM is right. :D
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Post new topic Post Reply
• Page 1 of 1