Question #N501

The speaker of the passage describes a particular type of modern-day art that requires a large degree of human interaction. The speaker then points to a historical example of artwork that similarly demands a large degree of human interaction, and then makes an argument about what it is that makes this type of art unique. The speaker argues that the artworks mentioned are unique because they require not just the skill of the artist, but also the skill of the viewers. In other words, the art requires the viewers to do something other than simply looking at the piece, which can be seen as an invitation to the viewers to be a part of the creative process. What is the most likely reason why the writer includes a historical example in the passage?

In this passage, the author most likely includes a historical example of artwork in order to
A. establish the speaker's credibility on this topic.
B. convey the speaker’s feelings and opinions about the topic.
C. provide an example of how the speaker has applied the concept.
D. illustrate the main idea of the passage.

Correct Answer is: D

The author includes a historical example of artwork to illustrate the main idea of the passage. The main idea is that the artworks mentioned are unique because they require not just the skill of the artist, but also the skill of the viewers. The author uses the historical example to show that this is not a new concept, but rather something that has been present in art for a long time.