LSAT Explanation PT 25, S4, Q9: The Board of Trustees of the

LSAT Question Stem

The conclusion drawn depends on which one of the following assumptions? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Necessary Assumption question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is B. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

First, let's analyze the argument in the passage. The passage discusses the decision of the Board of Trustees of the Federici Art Museum to sell some works from its collection to raise funds for refurbishing its galleries. The curator believes that some of the paintings in the collection, particularly immature works by Renoir and Cézanne, are of inferior quality and should be sold. The conclusion of the argument is that the board's action will not detract from the quality of the museum's collection.

The structure of the argument is as follows:

Premise: The curator believes that some paintings in the collection are of inferior quality and should be sold.

Conclusion: The board's action of selling some works will not detract from the quality of the museum's collection.

An "Evaluate" question for this argument could be: "Will the board only sell the paintings that the curator recommends selling?"

Now, let's discuss the correct answer choice and the other options. The question type is Necessary Assumption, which asks us to identify the assumption that must be true for the conclusion to be valid.

a) Art speculators are unable to distinguish an inferior painting by Renoir from a masterpiece by him.

This answer choice is not necessary for the conclusion to hold. Even if art speculators can distinguish between inferior and masterpiece paintings, the board's action could still not detract from the quality of the museum's collection as long as they sell the inferior paintings.

b) All of the paintings that the board of trustees sells will be among those that the curator recommends selling.

Correct Answer. This assumption is necessary for the conclusion to hold because if the board sells paintings that the curator does not recommend selling, the quality of the museum's collection could be negatively affected.

c) All of the paintings by Renoir and Cézanne that are owned by the Federici Art Museum were purchased by Ms. Federici herself.

This answer choice is not necessary for the conclusion to hold. The source of the paintings is irrelevant to whether the board's action of selling some works will detract from the quality of the museum's collection.

d) Only an avid collector of paintings by Cézanne would be willing to pay a high price for early works by this artist.

This answer choice is also not necessary for the conclusion to hold. The type of buyer willing to pay a high price for early works by Cézanne is irrelevant to whether the board's action of selling some works will detract from the quality of the museum's collection.

e) A great work of art can be truly appreciated only if it is displayed in a carefully designed and well-maintained gallery.

This answer choice is not necessary for the conclusion to hold. The appreciation of great works of art is irrelevant to whether the board's action of selling some works will detract from the quality of the museum's collection.

In summary, the correct answer is B, as it is the necessary assumption that must be true for the conclusion to be valid. If the board sells paintings other than those recommended by the curator, the quality of the museum's collection could be negatively affected.