Q12 - A 1955 analysis of paint samples

[mshinners]

Question Type:
Explain/Resolve

Stimulus Breakdown:
Expected: The second study, in determining a similar fact, would reach the same conclusion.
Unexpected: The second study reached the same conclusion about cobalt but not the same conclusion about the painting's age.

Answer Anticipation:
Some details uncovered in the second study will have to hint that the cobalt doesn't suggest the painting in newer than 1804.

Correct answer:
(A)

Answer choice analysis:
(A) And we get it, right off the bat! Here's an additional piece of information that states the cobalt is from after the painting was created, thus calling the first study's conclusion into question.

(B) Tempting, in that it suggests the new study was more accurate. However, it never states how that's connected to the age, and both studies had already determiend that cobalt was present, so the added accuracy doesn't really have an impact.

(C) More samples vs. larger samples? We don't know which is more important, so we can't resolve the discrepancy with this information. It might explain why the results were different, but they weren't really different with respect to the presence of cobalt.

(D) Out of scope. This doesn't address why the second study ended up with a different conclusion based on the cobalt.

(E) Out of scope. The second study brings up the period before 1804

Takeaway/Pattern:
Make sure your answer explains the situation instead of just aligning with it.

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