Critical Reasoning

The stated goal of the government's funding program for the arts is to encourage the creation of works of artistic excellence. Senator Beton claims, however, that a government-funded artwork can never reflect the independent artistic conscience of the artist because artists, like anyone else who accepts financial support, will inevitably try to please those who control the distribution of that support. Senator Beton concludes that government funding of the arts not only is a burden on taxpayers but also cannot lead to the creation of works of true artistic excellence.

Which one of the following is an assumption on which Senator Beton's argument is based?
(A) Most taxpayers have little or no interest in the creation of works of true artistic excellence.
(B) Government funding of the arts is more generous than other financial support most artists receive.
(C) Distribution of government funds for the arts is based on a broad agreement as to what constitutes artistic excellence.
(D) Once an artist has produced works of true artistic excellence. He or she will never accept government funding.
(E) A contemporary work of art that does not reflect the independent artistic conscience of the artist cannot be a work of true artistic excellence.

E it is
(A) Most taxpayers have little or no interest in the creation of works of true artistic excellence.
Cant conclude from Etons conc. that the Funding would be a burden
(B) Government funding of the arts is more generous than other financial support most artists receive.
Irrelevant
(C) Distribution of government funds for the arts is based on a broad agreement as to what constitutes artistic excellence.
Irrelevant
(D) Once an artist has produced works of true artistic excellence. He or she will never accept government funding.
The stimulus is concerned with the production of objects of artistic excellence after the funds are received by the Artist
(E) A contemporary work of art that does not reflect the independent artistic conscience of the artist cannot be a work of true artistic excellence.
This bridges the gap betweeen the independent artistic conscience of the artist and true artistic excellence

IMO E

(C) Distribution of government funds for the arts is based on a broad agreement as to what constitutes artistic excellence.

I don't think C is irrelevant here. If the govt. distributes funds on conditions as to what it deems as artistic excellence, then it defeats the purpose. As artistic excellence should reflect the conscience of the artist and not that of the govt. But if you apply the denial test on this, the conclusion does not fall apart. There is a claim in the argument that already states that govt. tries to influence the artist. So E would be a better option and without the assumption, the conclusion is not true. If I am off on the explanation, please feel free to chime in.

I'm going with E as well.

+1 E