Critical Reasoning

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

By deleting the plausible answers I came to A.

B and C answers seem to be positive about Cezzanne's work while the D and E answers tend to show the opposite.

So between two opposite sides I would say that Cezzanne's work is controversial, which is A.

By deleting the plausible answers I came to A.

B and C answers seem to be positive about Cezzanne's work while the D and E answers tend to show the opposite.

So between two opposite sides I would say that Cezzanne's work is controversial, which is A.

gmatmachoman wrote: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

Hi guys,

in an inference question, we need to find a choice that must be true based on one or more statements in the passage. The four wrong answers are things that could be false. You can ask of each choice: "did the stimulus prove that it has to be true or could it be false?"

Looking at the choices:

(A) Cézanne's work is highly controversial.
Most experts rank him as a modernist but a small few reject this idea. So the idea that he is "highly controersial" could easily be false.

(B) Cézanne was an early creator of abstract art.
We are told that the experts themselves are in disagreement about this idea. Therefore, it could easily be false.

(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.

OA plz

OA C!!!

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

Testluv wrote:
(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.

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

Testluv wrote:
(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.

Hi mehravikas,

the idea that he WAS a modernist (that he "ranked" as one) is what is disputed by some; not the idea that he influenced (=inspired) modernism.

A majority termed his work as a modernist. A few rejected. Certainly not Option A and Option E.
Option D cannot be supported by what is stated.
His work inspired creators of abstract art doesn't support Option B as well.

He was ranked by many as an early modernist. Certainly it can be taken that he helped to develop modernism.
I too go with Option C.

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.

Thanks for this

Testluv wrote: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.

Testluv wrote: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.

Can we assume modernism is same as modernist creators of abstract art..

Isn't it too generalized ...

Please explain..

nervesofsteel wrote:

Testluv wrote: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.

Can we assume modernism is same as modernist creators of abstract art..

Isn't it too generalized ...

Please explain..

Hi nervesofsteel,

No, we can't and we don't assume that "modernism is same as modernist creators of abstract art." ModernISM would be a school of artists. "Modernist" can be used to refer either to a member of that school ("Raphael is a modernist") or to a work of art created by a modernist ("this is a modernist work of art").

As elsewhere on the GMAT, you don't make ANY assumptions. However, you are expected to know basic vocabulary and very basic facts about the world. For example, you will be expected to know the difference between dog and cat, between percent and number, what direction clockwise is, etc....You will be expected to be able to infer that modernism as discussed in the passage connects to "modernist" as discussed in choice C.

Testluv wrote:

nervesofsteel wrote:

Testluv wrote: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.

Can we assume modernism is same as modernist creators of abstract art..

Isn't it too generalized ...

Please explain..

Hi nervesofsteel,

No, we can't and we don't assume that "modernism is same as modernist creators of abstract art." ModernISM would be a school of artists. "Modernist" can be used to refer either to a member of that school ("Raphael is a modernist") or to a work of art created by a modernist ("this is a modernist work of art").

As elsewhere on the GMAT, you don't make ANY assumptions. However, you are expected to know basic vocabulary and very basic facts about the world. For example, you will be expected to know the difference between dog and cat,
between percent and number, what direction clockwise is, etc....You will be expected to be able to infer that modernism as discussed in the passage connects to "modernist" as discussed in choice C.

Thanks .. i got it...

I am reopening this thread.. as I couldnot understand how "influencing modern art" and "influencing modernism" can be same.

Can anyone please explain?