LSAT 5 | Section 3 | Logical Reasoning: Q7

LR Question 7 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: The stated goal of the government’s funding program…

QUESTION TYPE: Necessary Assumption

CONCLUSION: Government funding of the arts cannot lead to works of artistic excellence.

REASONING: Like anyone who receives financial support artists will inevitably try to please those who fund them.

ANALYSIS: The senator makes a good argument that artists will not be fully independent. But that is not the same thing as being unable to produce works of artistic excellence. Most of the historical great artists were funded by patrons.

The senator is assuming that if you don’t have full creative control you cannot produce works of excellence.

___________

1. Who cares what the taxpayers think? The conclusion is about whether artists will be able to create works of excellence.
2. If government funding was only exactly as generous as other sources of funding, would that wreck the argument? No. It is only necessary that government funding is reasonably significant.
3. We don’t care how the funds are distributed. We want to know what effect funding will have on the artists.
4. We want to know what happens to artists who do accept government funding.
5. CORRECT. Yes. If this isn’t true then an artist might still produce an excellent work while trying to please their patron.

Recap: The question begins with “The stated goal of the government’s funding program”. It is a Necessary Assumption question. Learn how to master LSAT Necessary questions on the LSAT Logical Reasoning question types page.