LSAT 61, Reading Comprehension, Q8, LSATHacks

RC Question 8 Explanation, by LSATHacks

DISCUSSION: Lessing’s arguments are in paragraphs 3-4. You should look there to support your answer. Usually on this type of question the passage will 100% justify the correct answer.

___________

1. CORRECT. Lines 29-35 say this directly.
2. Lessing never mentions the financial value of art. In fact I don’t think the passage mentions money at all, anywhere.
   This answer is just playing on the fact that you may associate art with money.
3. There are two problems with this.
   1. Lessing doesn’t say this, and
   2. It’s a silly opinion. Who else would curators consult? It’s possible to fool art critics, but they may still be better at detecting forgery than anyone else.
4. Lessing only compares forgeries to the original paintings. Lessing does not compare forgeries to paintings made by lesser artists. It’s possible that Van Meegeren has more merit than most artists, but less merit than Vermeer.
5. Van Lessing said that aesthetics alone isn’t what makes art great. But that doesn’t mean that Van Lessing thinks that aesthetics have no role.
   That’s a silly, extreme opinion. The LSAT usually doesn’t have authors believe silly, extreme things. To pick this sort of silly answer you need extremely clear proof from the passage.

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