LR Question 24 Explanation, by LSATHacks
QUESTION TEXT: Until recently, experts have been unable to identify the…
QUESTION TYPE: Weaken
CONCLUSION: The artist who painted the self-portrait also painted the battle scene
REASONING: The self-portrait was dated to the same year the battle scene was painted, and resembles a figure in the battle scene.
ANALYSIS: This argument seems a bit thin. It could just be a coincidence that the figure in the battle scene resembles the self portrait. Or, since the artists in the self-portrait is well-known, someone else could’ve painted him into the battle scene. Other possibilities include that it’s narcissistic for an artist to put himself into a painting with other aristocrats.
___________
- This doesn’t seem to strengthen nor weaken the argument.
- Okay and so what? How does this weaken that the artist painted the battle scene? Also, this is talking about “most” of the figures in the painting so there is some wriggle room for the artist to paint himself into the painting.
- This might strengthen the argument. If it’s common to use live models, then maybe the artist used himself as a model!
- CORRECT. If it violated etiquette, then the artist wouldn’t have painted himself into a historical battle.
- This doesn’t weaken the argument. So what if the battle took place before the artist was born? The artist still knew about the battle, and it doesn’t stop him from painting himself in.
Recap: The question begins with “Until recently, experts have been unable to identify the”. It is a Weaken question. Learn more about LSAT Weaken questions in our guide to LSAT Logical Reasoning question types.
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How would we know etiquette mattered to this guy at all?
We don’t. But this is a weaken question. You don’t have to destroy the question, instead you only have to weaken it. Making the insertion a breach of etiquette does reduce the odds it was done, because most people do obey etiquete.