Q22 - Gallery owner: Because this painting

[ManhattanPrepLSAT1]

I think answer choices (A) and (D) are the two answer choices they expect you to be really interested in. The argument gives us several reasons why this work could be attributed to Van Gogh and then goes on to conclude that it actually is a Van Gogh.

Hmmm. I don't believe it.

We're asked to find an answer that describes a flaw committed in the argument.

(A) is really close but here's why it's wrong. In order for this to be the correct answer, it would need to say in the stimulus that there is general agreement that this painting is a Van Gogh, therefore this painting must be a Van Gogh. However, the general agreement is only that Van Gogh used broad brush strokes later in his career.
(B) is the opposite. The argument clearly cites expert authority in making the case.
(C) is way out of scope. Nowhere is it assumed that there couldn't be another reason for acquiring a painting.
(D) describes in it's own way that the evidence only allows one to conclude that it could be a Van Gogh, because the evidence is also consistent with the possibility that it was painted by someone in the style of Van Gogh.
(E) has roots in the stimulus but they're twisted around a bit in the answer choice. We don't know that the gallery owner doesn't actually believe that the work is a Van Gogh. It's not established that the gallery owner is acting out of simple self interest.

Hope this helps!

[skdygks03]

Regarding (E), I think “to establish a particular conclusion because doing so it is in the reasoner’s self-interest” is not a flaw itself. The argument can be based on self-interest.

Am I correct?

[ohthatpatrick]

Yeah, I'd agree with that. If we know that someone's conclusion aligns with their interests, we might be skeptical and double-check their evidence, but an argument is not inherently flawed just because a conclusion would align with someone's interest.