It is (i) that so many portrait paintings

It is (i) that so many portrait paintings hang in art museums, since the subject matter seems to dictate a status closer to pictures in the family photograph album than to high art. But perhaps it is the artistic skill with which the portraits are painted that (ii) their presence in art museums. Blank (i): surprising, understandable, irrelevant Blank (ii): challenges, justifies, changes

2 Explanations

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Szu-Chieh Wang

Dose "dictate" in the sentence mean "to determine"?

Jun 30, 2017 • Comment

Adam

Hi Szu-Chieh,

Yes this is saying that the subject matter of portrait paintings seems to indicate/determine/prescribe that they should be closer to family photos than to high art.

Does that make sense?

Jul 1, 2017 • Reply

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Chris Lele

Oct 3, 2012 • Comment

Phuong Nguyen

For the 1st blank, why C is not the answer

Apr 10, 2017 • Reply

Adam

The first sentence indicates that one would not expect many portraits to be in art museums, since they seem to have a status that is "closer to pictures in the family photograph album than to high art." Therefore, it must be surprising that there are in fact so many portraits in museums. Since the author is making a judgment here, it's definitely not irrelevant.

Apr 10, 2017 • Reply