CAT 2022 Reading Comprehension Questions - 2 | Verbal Ability (VA) & Reading Comprehension (RC) PDF Download

{Back in the 17th century [in the West], excavated artworks from antiquity were treated quite differently from today. They were not restored in a way that was faithful to the original. Instead, there was massive intervention in these works, changing their appearance. .}

Based on the passage, the scenario in Option C [A 17th-century French artist who adhered to a Christian worldview would need to be completely true to the original intent of a painting when restoring it] is unlikely to follow from the arguments in the passage. The passage mentions that in the 17th century, excavated artworks from antiquity were treated differently from how they are today and were not restored in a way that was faithful to the original. Instead, there was "massive intervention" in these works, changing their appearance. This suggests that the idea of an unassailable original may not have held as much importance in the 17th century as it does today. Therefore, it is unlikely that a 17th-century French artist who adhered to a Christian worldview would necessarily need to be completely true to the original intent of a painting when restoring it. Contrarily, we cannot definitively comment on the other scenarios - A, B, and D. 

Hence, Option C is the correct choice.

Option 1 is the result of ‘unassailable original’ because to preserve the original, they have to constantly protect the original, keeping certain craftsmen regularly employed. The idea of ‘unassailable original’ is with respect to art. So, we have to keep the discussion limited to art. Both 3 and 4 are a result of the value assigned to the unassailable original. Option 2 is the odd one out.

This is a very easy question to answer. We know from the passage that both the structures are quite old, and that one day both will be completely rebuilt, and that both are places of worship. As far as the idea of continual restoration is concerned, it is quite true for Freiburg, but not for the Grand Shrine. Option 2 is the right choice.

The passage discusses cultural differences in the concept of a copy and the value placed on originality, particularly in relation to art and religious buildings. In China, copies (fuzhipin) are considered to be of equal value to the original and do not carry negative connotations, while in the Western world, the idea of an unassailable original has historically held more importance. This difference in perspective has led to misunderstandings and tensions between China and Western museums when Chinese museums send copies abroad. 

Based on the above, a Chinese museum would be unlikely to consider Option B [Pablo Picasso's painting of Vincent van Gogh's original painting, identical in every respect] as having less value than the original. This is because the Chinese concept of a copy (fuzhipin) refers to exact reproductions of the original that are considered to be of equal value to the original and do not carry negative connotations. Contrarily, Option A - a painting of Vincent van Gogh's original painting by Pablo Picasso with Picasso's signature - would not be considered a fuzhipin as it is not an exact reproduction of the original and bears the signature of a different artist. Similarly, Options C and D would also not be considered a fuzhipin since they are not an exact reproduction of the original [but merely different versions/formats].