An auction that has just been announced will feature many famous items and personal effects belonging to a recently bank

[B BTGmoderatorDC]

An auction that has just been announced will feature many famous items and personal effects belonging to a recently bankrupted rock star. Though it is likely that what remains of the rock star’s personal cachet will entice bidders to pay top dollar for his guitar, motorcycle, and snakeskin jumpsuit, his creditors are unlikely to enjoy great profits from the sale of his world renowned collection of model dinosaurs, which holds no mystique over those same starstruck bidders.

Which of the following is an assumption required by the argument?

a) The dinosaur collection was never associated with rock star’s personal cachet.

b) The rock star’s creditors will profit handsomely from the sale of the rock star’s guitar, motorcycle, and snakeskin jumpsuit.

c) Collectors of model dinosaurs will not likely be attracted to the auction exclusive of their interest in the rock star’s personal cachet or cultural memorabilia.

d) The rock star’s dinosaur collection was frequently mocked in the media, and his obsession with it is believed to have led to his bankruptcy and personal disgrace.

e) No one bidding on the rock star’s guitar, motorcycle, or jumpsuit has enough money to also bid on the dinosaur collection.


OA C

Source: Veritas Prep

[GMATGuruNY]

An auction that has just been announced will feature many famous items and personal effects belonging to a recently bankrupted rock star. Though it is likely that what remains of the rock star’s personal cachet will entice bidders to pay top dollar for his guitar, motorcycle, and snakeskin jumpsuit, his creditors are unlikely to enjoy great profits from the sale of his world renowned collection of model dinosaurs, which holds no mystique over those same starstruck bidders.

Which of the following is an assumption required by the argument?

a) The dinosaur collection was never associated with rock star’s personal cachet.

b) The rock star’s creditors will profit handsomely from the sale of the rock star’s guitar, motorcycle, and snakeskin jumpsuit.

c) Collectors of model dinosaurs will not likely be attracted to the auction exclusive of their interest in the rock star’s personal cachet or cultural memorabilia.

d) The rock star’s dinosaur collection was frequently mocked in the media, and his obsession with it is believed to have led to his bankruptcy and personal disgrace.

e) No one bidding on the rock star’s guitar, motorcycle, or jumpsuit has enough money to also bid on the dinosaur collection.

Premise:
The collection of model dinosaurs holds no mystique over the bidders who will pay top dollar for the rock star's personal cachet.
Conclusion:
Creditors are unlikely to enjoy great profits from the sale of the collection of model dinosaurs.

Apply the NEGATION TEST.
When the correct answer is negated, the conclusion will be invalidated.

C, negated:
Collectors of model dinosaurs will likely be attracted to the auction exclusive of their interest in the rock star’s personal cachet.
Implication:
The group in green will bid on the rock star's collection, invalidating the conclusion that creditors are unlikely to enjoy great profits from the sale of the collection of model dinosaurs
Since the negation of C invalidates the conclusion, C is an ASSUMPTION: a statement that MUST BE TRUE for the conclusion to hold.

The correct answer is C

A, negated:
The dinosaur collection was sometimes associated with the rock star’s personal cachet.
This negation seems to weaken the PREMISE that the collection holds no mystique over the bidders who will pay top dollar for the rock star's personal cachet.
A premise is a FACT: it cannot be weakened.
Any answer choice or negation that attempts to weaken a premise is wrong.
Eliminate A.