Museums that house Renaissance oil paintings typically store them in environments that are carefully kept within narrow margins of temperature...

GMAT Critical Reasoning : (CR) Questions

Source: Official Guide

Critical Reasoning

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Museums that house Renaissance oil paintings typically store them in environments that are carefully kept within narrow margins of temperature and humidity to inhibit any deterioration. Laboratory tests have shown that the kind of oil paint used in these paintings actually adjusts to climatic changes quite well. If, as some museum directors believe, paint is the most sensitive substance in these works, then by relaxing the standards for temperature and humidity control, museums can reduce energy costs without risking damage to these paintings. Museums would be rash to relax those standards, however, since results of preliminary tests indicate that gesso, a compound routinely used by Renaissance artists to help paint adhere to the canvas, is unable to withstand significant variations in humidity.

In the argument above, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?

The first is an objection that has been raised against the position taken by the argument; the second is the position taken by the argument.

The first is the position taken by the argument; the second is the position that the argument calls into question.

The first is a judgment that has been offered in support of the position that the argument calls into question; the second is a circumstance on which that judgment is, in part, based.

The first is a judgment that has been offered in support of the position that the argument calls into question; the second is that position.

The first is a claim that the argument calls into question; the second is the position taken by the argument.

Solution

Understanding the Passage

Text from Passage	Analysis
"Museums that house Renaissance oil paintings typically store them in environments that are carefully kept within narrow margins of temperature and humidity to inhibit any deterioration."	What it says: Museums keep Renaissance oil paintings in very controlled environments with strict temperature and humidity limits to prevent damage. Visualization: Temperature maintained at exactly 68-72°F and humidity at 45-55%, with no deviation allowed. What it does: Establishes the current standard practice that museums follow. Source: Author's factual statement
"Laboratory tests have shown that the kind of oil paint used in these paintings actually adjusts to climatic changes quite well."	What it says: Scientific testing proves that the oil paint in these old paintings can handle changes in temperature and humidity better than expected. Visualization: Lab tests: Oil paint exposed to 60°F → 80°F temperature swings and 40% → 70% humidity changes with minimal damage. What it does: Presents evidence that challenges the need for strict environmental controls. Source: Author reporting scientific findings
(Boldface 1) "paint is the most sensitive substance in these works"	What it says: Some museum directors believe that paint is the most fragile part of these Renaissance paintings. Visualization: Museum directors' assumption: Paint sensitivity = 95% fragile vs Canvas = 60% fragile vs Other materials = 40% fragile. What it does: Introduces a conditional assumption that the subsequent argument depends on. Source: Museum directors' belief (not author's view)
(Boldface 2) "museums can reduce energy costs without risking damage to these paintings"	What it says: If paint really is the most sensitive part, then museums could save money on climate control without harming the paintings. Visualization: Current energy costs: $50,000/year for strict climate control → Proposed: $20,000/year with relaxed standards, with 0% risk of painting damage. What it does: States the logical conclusion that would follow if the museum directors' belief is correct. Source: Author's logical inference
"Museums would be rash to relax those standards, however, since results of preliminary tests indicate that gesso, a compound routinely used by Renaissance artists to help paint adhere to the canvas, is unable to withstand significant variations in humidity."	What it says: The author argues museums shouldn't relax their standards because early test results show that gesso (the substance that makes paint stick to canvas) can't handle humidity changes. Visualization: Gesso damage test: 40% → 70% humidity variation causes gesso to crack and fail within 30 days, leading to paint separation from canvas. What it does: Provides the author's main conclusion with supporting evidence that contradicts the earlier reasoning. Source: Author's conclusion with supporting test data

Overall Structure

The author presents a potential cost-saving argument for museums (based on others' beliefs), then rejects this argument by providing contradictory evidence. The logic flows from: current practice → scientific evidence → others' belief → logical conclusion from that belief → author's rejection with counter-evidence.

Main Conclusion: Museums would be rash to relax their temperature and humidity standards.

Boldface Segments

Boldface 1: paint is the most sensitive substance in these works
Boldface 2: museums can reduce energy costs without risking damage to these paintings

Boldface Understanding

Boldface 1 Function: This represents a key assumption held by some museum directors that the subsequent reasoning depends on. It's the "if" part of a conditional argument.

Boldface 1 Direction: Opposite direction - This supports a conclusion that the author ultimately rejects.

Boldface 2 Function: This is the conclusion that would logically follow if Boldface 1 were true. It represents the "then" part of the conditional reasoning.

Boldface 2 Direction: Opposite direction - This is the conclusion that the author argues against.

Structural Classification

Boldface 1 Structural Role: A conditional assumption or premise that others hold, which serves as the foundation for an argument the author will reject.

Boldface 1 Predicted Answer Patterns: "assumption," "belief that the author questions," "premise of a view the author opposes"

Boldface 2 Structural Role: The conclusion that would follow from the conditional assumption, but which the author ultimately argues against.

Boldface 2 Predicted Answer Patterns: "conclusion that the author opposes," "inference that the author argues against," "recommendation the author rejects"

Answer Choices Explained

The first is an objection that has been raised against the position taken by the argument; the second is the position taken by the argument.

'The first is an objection that has been raised against the position taken by the argument' - ✗ WRONG - Boldface 1 is not an objection to the author's position; rather, it's a belief that supports a position the author opposes. 'the second is the position taken by the argument' - ✗ WRONG - Boldface 2 represents the position that relaxing standards is safe, which is exactly what the author argues against

The first is the position taken by the argument; the second is the position that the argument calls into question.

'The first is the position taken by the argument' - ✗ WRONG - The author's actual position is that museums would be 'rash' to relax standards, not that paint is the most sensitive substance. 'the second is the position that the argument calls into question' - ✓ CORRECT - Boldface 2 does represent a position the author questions and ultimately rejects

The first is a judgment that has been offered in support of the position that the argument calls into question; the second is a circumstance on which that judgment is, in part, based.

'The first is a judgment that has been offered in support of the position that the argument calls into question' - ✓ CORRECT - Boldface 1 is indeed a judgment by museum directors supporting the idea of relaxing standards, which the author questions. 'the second is a circumstance on which that judgment is, in part, based' - ✗ WRONG - Boldface 2 is not a circumstance or evidence; it's the conclusion that follows from the judgment and lab evidence

The first is a judgment that has been offered in support of the position that the argument calls into question; the second is that position.

'The first is a judgment that has been offered in support of the position that the argument calls into question' - ✓ CORRECT - Boldface 1 is a judgment by museum directors that supports relaxing climate standards, which the author opposes. 'the second is that position' - ✓ CORRECT - Boldface 2 is exactly the position of relaxing standards without risk, which the author calls into question

The first is a claim that the argument calls into question; the second is the position taken by the argument.

'The first is a claim that the argument calls into question' - ✗ WRONG - The author doesn't directly challenge whether paint is the most sensitive substance; instead, the author provides evidence about gesso's sensitivity. 'the second is the position taken by the argument' - ✗ WRONG - Boldface 2 represents the position the author argues against, not the author's own position

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