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himu
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During the summer of 1946, two large abstract paintings
sold for $150,000 at Agatha & Agatha's Auction House.
Manhattanites desirous of social pride outbid each other for
these two prize canvases replete with black lines, green
(5) triangles, and purple circles. Winners Adam Ovariano and his
wife Teresa hired professionals to asymmetrically mount the
massive pieces onto the mantle above their fireplace. The
couple loved how their ownership of the paintings made
them the envy of all. Sixteen years later on January 26th,
(10) 1962, Adam and Teresa's first and only child, James Ovariano
was born. Before he could even speak he would look up from
his baby building blocks to the paintings and scowl. In 2007
James Ovariano sold the paintings and only received
$40,000.
(15) Now in 2007, 45 year-old James Ovariano keeps up a
wonderful sociological blog called "Ovariano's Tomorrow" in
which he details his concerns regarding his family's classist
past. He rejects their values, arguing that in the earlier part
of the twentieth century large expensive art would denote
(20) class and wealth. James writes: "In the twenty-first century I
think that people are growing more impressed with love.
Compassion is our strongest commodity." This new take on
love and money is spreading across the internet with such
slogans as "Love is Ovariano you Need".
(25) James' blog painfully accounts many times when his
parents could have donated thousands to charities with
humanitarian causes, but instead opted to buy expensive
things. He feels that their consumer decisions were motivated
by societal pressure. In his parents' environment, the more you
(30) had, the more everyone thought of you. James feels that
society now has less interest in praising individuals for lavish
purchases. He urges his readership: "Items are getting smaller
and more convenient. Information that once occupied an entire
storage room now fits on a drive the size of three fingers."
(35) James believes that big collectibles have lost value due to their
wasteful grandiosity in a world that, he insists, is becoming
less materialistic and more maternal.
Another blogger, known only as Captain CapitalYay,
disputes James' assertion that society is interested in love.
(40) CapitalYay feels that the decrease in the size of technological
items is only a sign of the growing population. He or she, as
CapitalYay's GMAT is unknown, commented on James' blog:
"Cities are crowded and land is limited. Things are smaller
because there is less space. Less is not more, less is less."
(45) This explanation, however, does not consider the example of
people's actions. When James' childhood home was in danger
of foreclosure he auctioned off those two "prized" paintings
but this time got only $40,000 from the Manhattanites,
instead of the original $150,000. Desperate to keep his
(50) family home James set up a virtual donation booth on his
blog. Readers could click on a "donate now" button to save
the home. People were quick to join the cause, citing that the
blog and its author had brought them much love, joy, and
insight. In record time, $200,000 was donated from his
(55) adoring fan base, proving in James' eyes that love is worth
much more than garish oversized belongings.
The main goal of this passage is to:
A
discuss the daily newspaper from a new sociological stance.
B
show the main arguments from a blog.
C
compare and contrast two views on art.
A second opinion is presented in the last paragraph and not throughout the passage.
D
disprove a commonly held assumption about the value of art.
E
raise funds for research in an under-appreciated social field.
sold for $150,000 at Agatha & Agatha's Auction House.
Manhattanites desirous of social pride outbid each other for
these two prize canvases replete with black lines, green
(5) triangles, and purple circles. Winners Adam Ovariano and his
wife Teresa hired professionals to asymmetrically mount the
massive pieces onto the mantle above their fireplace. The
couple loved how their ownership of the paintings made
them the envy of all. Sixteen years later on January 26th,
(10) 1962, Adam and Teresa's first and only child, James Ovariano
was born. Before he could even speak he would look up from
his baby building blocks to the paintings and scowl. In 2007
James Ovariano sold the paintings and only received
$40,000.
(15) Now in 2007, 45 year-old James Ovariano keeps up a
wonderful sociological blog called "Ovariano's Tomorrow" in
which he details his concerns regarding his family's classist
past. He rejects their values, arguing that in the earlier part
of the twentieth century large expensive art would denote
(20) class and wealth. James writes: "In the twenty-first century I
think that people are growing more impressed with love.
Compassion is our strongest commodity." This new take on
love and money is spreading across the internet with such
slogans as "Love is Ovariano you Need".
(25) James' blog painfully accounts many times when his
parents could have donated thousands to charities with
humanitarian causes, but instead opted to buy expensive
things. He feels that their consumer decisions were motivated
by societal pressure. In his parents' environment, the more you
(30) had, the more everyone thought of you. James feels that
society now has less interest in praising individuals for lavish
purchases. He urges his readership: "Items are getting smaller
and more convenient. Information that once occupied an entire
storage room now fits on a drive the size of three fingers."
(35) James believes that big collectibles have lost value due to their
wasteful grandiosity in a world that, he insists, is becoming
less materialistic and more maternal.
Another blogger, known only as Captain CapitalYay,
disputes James' assertion that society is interested in love.
(40) CapitalYay feels that the decrease in the size of technological
items is only a sign of the growing population. He or she, as
CapitalYay's GMAT is unknown, commented on James' blog:
"Cities are crowded and land is limited. Things are smaller
because there is less space. Less is not more, less is less."
(45) This explanation, however, does not consider the example of
people's actions. When James' childhood home was in danger
of foreclosure he auctioned off those two "prized" paintings
but this time got only $40,000 from the Manhattanites,
instead of the original $150,000. Desperate to keep his
(50) family home James set up a virtual donation booth on his
blog. Readers could click on a "donate now" button to save
the home. People were quick to join the cause, citing that the
blog and its author had brought them much love, joy, and
insight. In record time, $200,000 was donated from his
(55) adoring fan base, proving in James' eyes that love is worth
much more than garish oversized belongings.
The main goal of this passage is to:
A
discuss the daily newspaper from a new sociological stance.
B
show the main arguments from a blog.
C
compare and contrast two views on art.
A second opinion is presented in the last paragraph and not throughout the passage.
D
disprove a commonly held assumption about the value of art.
E
raise funds for research in an under-appreciated social field.
