Question: If the recording now playing on the jazz program is really “Louis Armstrong recorded in concert in 1989,” as the announcer said, then Louis Armstrong was playing some of the best jazz of his career years after his death. Since the trumpeter was definitely Louis Armstrong, somehow the announcer must have gotten the date of the recording wrong.

The pattern of reasoning in the argument above is most similar to that in which one of the following arguments?

(A) The museum is reported as having acquired a painting “by Malvina Hoffman, an artist who died in 1966.” But Hoffman was a sculptor was sculptor, not a painter, so the report must be wrong about the acquisition being a painting.
(B) This painting titled La Toilette is Berthe Morisot’s La Toilette only if a painting can be in two museums at the same time. Since nothing can be in two places at once, this painting must somehow have been mistitled.
(C) Only if a twentieth-century Mexican artist painted in Japan during the seventeenth century can this work both be “by Frida Kahlo” as labelled and the seventeenth century Japanese landscape it appears to be. Since it is
what it appears to be, the label is wrong.
(D) Unless Kathe Kollwitz was both a sculptor and a printmaker, the volunteer museum guide is wrong in his attribution of this sculpture. Since what Kollwitz is known for is her prints, the guide must be wrong.
(E) If this painting is a portrait done in acrylic, it cannot be by Elisabeth Vigee-Lebrun, since acrylic paint was developed only after her death. Thus, since it is definitely a portrait, the paint must not be acrylic.

Answer: C
Explanation:

Let's dissect the argument. The right response must follow a similar line of thought.

The first statement paints a picture of an impossibility.
Louis Armstrong played jazz after his passing. "Louis Armstrong recorded in concert in 1989"Since this is obviously absurd, only two scenarios are viable: either the performance did not take place in 1989 or Louis Armstrong
did not perform.

The final clause refutes the truth of (2), so (1) must be true.
This line of thinking should lead to the correct response.

C: Correct
The first statement describes an impossibility.
"by Frida Kahlo" – A Mexican artist from the twentieth century who worked in Japan in the seventeenth century.
There are two possible answers:

1. not by Frida Kahlo
2. not a landscape of Japan

The subsequent clause refutes (2) and confirms (1). This is the right response.

A: Incorrect
Let's try to dissect this response option.
Malina Hoffman is a sculptor who created this artwork; it is obvious that the issue is not insurmountable. One or two sketches may have been painted by a sculptor.
Since the argument contends that it is impossible, two things must be true: 1.

2. Unlike Hoffman
   The response choice does not refute (2) what the question stem claims (1). It only states (1).

B: Incorrect
The first statement describes an impossibility.
The painting needs to be in two places at once. There must be two possible answers: 1. The painting is not by Berthe Morisot (the painting is mistitled). The second one cannot be inferred. Additionally, the argument does not state one possibility while rejecting another.

D: Incorrect
"Kate Kollwitz … her prints." This does not represent an impossibility. She might have sculpted one or two items, after all.
Two options are available: 1. not by Kathe. 2. not a work of art.
The response choice does not affirm the first while denying the second. Incorrect.

E: Incorrect
The first statement describes an impossibility.Elisabeth Vigee painted in acrylic; she should have used acrylic before it was known about.
There must be two alternatives: 1. Not by Elizabeth; 2. Not in acrylic.
The statement that follows does not refute either of the two. This renders (2) inaccurate because it asserts that it is a portrait.

“If the recording now playing on the jazz program is really “Louis Armstrong” – is a GMAT Critical question. To answer the question, a candidate can either find a piece of evidence that would weaken the argument or have logical flaws in the argument. GMAT critical reasoning tests the logical and analytical skills of the candidates. This topic requires candidates to find the argument's strengths and weaknesses or the logical flaw in the argument. The GMAT CR section contains 10 -13 GMAT critical reasoning questions out of 36 GMAT verbal questions.

Suggested GMAT Critical Reasoning Questions

• At An Enormous Research Cost A Leading Chemical Company Has Developed GMAT Critical Reasoning
• A Reliable Survey Indicates That College Graduates Change Employers Four Times GMAT Critical Reasoning
• In 1988, a significant percentage of seals in the Baltic Sea died GMAT Critical Reasoning
• Contrary to the charges made by some of its opponents GMAT Critical Reasoning
• A Year After The Start An Experiment To Decrease Crime GMAT Critical Reasoning
• Since the invention of digital readout, machine designers have rushed GMAT Critical Reasoning
• The President of a Consulting Firm Analysed the Decisions Made About Marketing GMAT Critical Reasoning
• Many companies have been pushing for a three-week extension of daylight GMAT Critical Reasoning
• In All Mammalian Species, the Period of a Young Mammal’s Life GMAT Critical Reasoning
• Manufacturers of household appliances are still urging the public to purchase food processors GMAT critical reasoning
• Contrary to the Statements of Labour Leaders, the Central Economic Problem GMAT Critical Reasoning
• From time to time, the press indulges in outbursts of indignation over GMAT critical reasoning
• The tax system of the Republic of Grootland encourages borrowing by granting its taxpayers GMAT Critical Reasoning
• Advances in photocopying technology allow criminals with no printing expertise GMAT Critical Reasoning
• Professor A: We must make a strong moral statement against Country X’s policies GMAT Critical Reasoning
• According to an Independent Computer-Industry Analyst, the New Regent Microcomputer GMAT Critical Reasoning
• In Today’s Pluralistic Society, Textbook Publishers Find Themselves in an Increasingly Uncomfortable Position GMAT Critical Reasoning
• Economies in which a high percentage of resources are invested in research and development GMAT Critical Reasoning
• Columnist: The country is presently debating legislation GMAT Critical Reasoning
• When People Evade Income Taxes by not Declaring Taxable Income GMAT Critical Reasoning
• Utrania was formerly a major petroleum exporter, but in recent decades economic stagnation GMAT critical reasoning
• Useful protein drugs, such as insulin, must still be administered by the cumbersome GMAT critical reasoning
• Unripe Lychee Fruit Contain a Compound called Hypoglycin GMAT Critical Reasoning
• Tiger Beetles are such Fast Runners that they can Capture Virtually any Nonflying Insect GMAT Critical Reasoning
• In the nation of Pelmenia, 20% of 18-year-olds are left-handed, while just 10% of 45-year-olds and 2% of 70-year-olds are left-handed
• Electric Utilities Pay Less for Low-Quality Coal Per Ton GMAT Critical Reasoning
• Museums that House Renaissance Oil Paintings Typically Store Them GMAT Critical Reasoning
• Researcher: Hard water contains more calcium and magnesium GMAT Critical Reasoning
• The translator of poetry must realize that word-for-word equivalents GMAT Critical Reasoning
• The importance of the ozone layer to terrestrial animals is that GMAT Critical Reasoning
• Hotco Oil Burners, Designed To Be Used In Asphalt Plants, Are So Efficient GMAT Critical Reasoning
• The Board of Trustees of the Federici Art Museum has decided to sell GMAT critical reasoning
• Fish Breeder: A Rare Illness Known As Smith-Kreal Disease is Spreading GMAT Critical Reasoning
• Trancorp currently transports all its goods to Burland Island by truck GMAT Critical Reasoning
• The City Council will Certainly Vote to Approve the New Downtown GMAT critical reasoning
• Concerned citizen: The Mayor, an Outspoken Critic of the Proposed GMAT Critical Reasoning
• All German Philosphers, except for Marx, are Idealists GMAT Critical Reasoning
• The Cost of Producing Radios in Country Q is 10 Percent Less GMAT Critical Reasoning
• Helen: It was wrong of my brother Mark to tell our mother that GMAT Critical Reasoning
• Local Phone Companies Have Monopolies On Phone Service Within Their Areas GMAT Critical Reasoning
• Today's low gasoline prices make consumers willing to indulge GMAT Critical Reasoning
• Athletic director: “Members of our sports team included, for the fall season GMAT Critical Reasoning
• Research Indicates That College Professors Generally Were Raised GMAT Critical Reasoning
• Residents of an apartment complex are considering two possible plans GMAT Critical Reasoning
• The Tobacco Industry is Still Profitable and Projections are that it will Remain so GMAT Critical Reasoning.
• The price the government pays for standard weapons purchased from military contractors is determined by a pricing method called “historical costing” GMAT Critical Reasoning
• In a taste test, participants were asked to try two versions of a cola GMAT Critical Reasoning
• The percentage of households with an annual income of more than $40,000 GMAT Critical Reasoning
• The nature of English literature reflects the rich and diverse vocabulary of the English language, which resulted from the dual influence of the Anglo-Saxon and, later, French languages GMAT Critical Reasoning
• A study released by a major medical center has found that people who experience a stroke are frequently not treated quickly GMAT Critical Reasoning