Q13

[DavidS899]

This question is about the author's attitude towards foreign collectors of terra cotta sculptures.

I was stuck between E (sympathy with motives) and B (approval of aesthetic judgement), using line 8 as a reference for the authors attitude when he says "foreign collectors who rightly admired [these sculptures]"

I ultimately went with E because there is no support for the contention that the admiration these foreign collectors had was solely inspired by their aesthetic judgement. In fact, much of the passage seems to suggest that these artifacts are, alternatively, valuable due to their cultural significance.

But assuming that it could be that some foreign collectors admire these sculptures because of their aesthetic judgement, would it still not be true that their "motives" for collection are inspired by that "admiration" for these sculptures that the author says is "rightly" placed? In that case wouldn't that line reference still hold true for their motives?

Can someone explain this to me?

[ohthatpatrick]

I agree with you and would have used your same rationale to pick (E). So I'll retroactively try to make whatever case I think LSAT could make, but know in your heart that I think this choice between B and E is unfair.

I think you're right that (B) is a subset of (E).

Meaning ... if the author does find these sculptures worthy of admiration, and if the author assumes that collectors are buying the sculptures for the sake of aesthetic enjoyment, then the author seems to have sympathy with their motives.

But I think LSAT would try to disqualify (E) on the basis of us not knowing what the motives of the collectors are. Since the motive for buying the sculpture isn't explicitly touched on, it MIGHT be to amass a collection of art that the collector finds aesthetically inspiring, or it MIGHT be to amass a collection of art in order to show up The Harrisons next door who think they're just soooo worldly.

If you ask yourself which answer is a tighter reinforcement of the text, it seems like that moment in line 8 better matches (B).
(B) rightly admired
(E) rightly desired

[JenniferK632]

I see the direct textual evidence for B, "who rightly admired them."

Can you help me rule out C? The example about the London collector and how the UNESCO regulation backfired made me think the author was frustrated that owners of artifacts were not tracking the artifacts, probably because they didn't want to give the artifact up.

[Laura Damone]

Sure thing!

The London example is a hypothetical, not an example of an actual collector about whom the author has a critique. In order to back C up, we'd need the author to actually come out against the collectors, which this author never does.

Instead, the author criticizes the legal system that gave rise to the situation, not the collectors or even the looters.

Hope this helps!