CR MGMAT TEST

[alexei600]

A newly discovered painting on wooden panel by Michelangelo must have been completed after 1507 but before 1509. It cannot have been painted earlier than 1507 because one of its central figures carries a coin that was not minted until that year. It cannot have been painted after 1509 because it contains a pigment that Michelangelo is known to have abandoned when a cheaper alternative became available in that year.

Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?
No stocks of the abandoned pigment existed after 1509.
Michelangelo did not work on the painting over the course of several years.
The coin depicted in the painting was known to general public in 1507.
The wooden panel on which the painting was executed cannot be tested accurately for age.
Michelangelo's painting style did not change between 1507 and 1509.
Answer B-----------------------------------------------------
Dear Instructor,
My question is why D is wrong, since the conclusion is about the time frame, which shows the dates 1507-1509; so the answer should be around that issue. I find that B canot be proved.
Thanks

[agha79]

Maybe it is not the right folder to discuss MGMAT questions but I would love to put in my input and help you out, if i can!!

The conclusion of the argument is that the painting by Michelangelo must have been completed after 1507 but before 1509 and we need an underlying assumption that justifies the conclusion. The coin in the painting was minted in 1507 and the pigment used in the painting was not used after 1509. If Michelangelo took several years to complete the painting then it is possible that he started the painting with that pigment, whose use was abandoned later, and started using the cheaper one. Thus, the completion goes beyond 1509. Similarly it is possible that the painting was completed after a few years the coin was minted. We need an assumption that keeps our conclusion valid. That is in answer choice B that Michelangelo did not took several years to complete the painting.

In answer choice D, the general public is beyond the scope of the argument conclusion. If the coin was known to general public in 1507, it has no relevance on assuming that the painting was made in between that time period mentioned.

[RonPurewal]

1) PLEASE SEARCH THE FORUM -- don't make new threads for problems that already have threads

2) this is the wrong folder

look here:
cr-question-t2495.html