Reading Comprehension

Modern art challenges our understanding of art by adding a new and crucial element, the concept, to its definition. With the brazen beginnings of Marcel Duchamp, modern art began to uproot our society's limited conceptions of art and question its very nature. The difference between modern and traditional art could not be more plain. Previously, aesthetic principles and specialized artistic skill were the hallmarks of "good" artwork. Now, unlike the Old Masters, modern artists use their considerable artistic talents to beg the questions of the role of the viewer, the function of the artist in society and what can be deemed art. Some modern artists posit that any object may be considered art as long as it is presented as art. The suggestion that everyday objects or intangible ideas may be considered as artistic as Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa often leads to shock, dismay and disgust. However, in eliciting those responses, modern artists achieve their intended goal: to provoke debate as to the nature of art and make the viewer expand his or her conception of art.

Robert Rauschenberg's White Paintings are a series of monochromatic works whose underlying concept exemplifies modern art. As one can expect from their name, the paintings consist of multi-paneled canvases painted white. They represent the antithesis of traditional artistic standards: their creation requires no special artistic skill and their value lies not in their appearance but in the abstract concept they invoke. The color white is the key element to the concept behind their creation. The white paint on the canvas emphasizes its flat, two-dimensional nature. Historically, painting has tried to represent three-dimensional topics on canvas, drawing attention away from the canvas and towards the topic of the painting. The White Paintings do not just acknowledge the flat surface on which they are painted, they make the canvas itself the topic of the work. By drawing attention to the canvas, Rauschenberg succeeds in giving his viewer a radically creative alternative view of art.


Which of the following can be inferred from the passage about Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa?
"¢ Leonardo da Vinci is considered an Old Master.
"¢ Viewing the Mona Lisa cannot lead to shock, dismay and disgust.
"¢ It is a work of undisputed high artistic value.
"¢ It is more artistic than everyday objects or intangible ideas.
"¢ Artists who consider everyday objects or intangible ideas to be as artistic as theMona Lisa do not appreciate its true value

[spoiler]OA:C but i think it is D as "undisputed" is strong and nowhere mentioned.
OE for D This answer choice incorrectly claims that the author implies the Mona Lisa is more artistic than everyday objects, etc. The author only reports of the suggestion and those who object it; he or she does not take sides.
OE for C The comparison made in this sentence implies that the Mona Lisa is of high artistic value, since it serves as a standard of comparison for other works of art.[/spoiler]