Question

in a long essay for the new yorker on kara walkers silhouettes, one art historian offered a(n) ____ critique of a popular museum show, peeling back its wall text and marketing to expose how they softened the works violence even as the installations forced visitors to confront the history of slavery. 2 mark for review which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase? a didactic b incisive c diffuse d arcane

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each option:

• Option A: "didactic" means intended to teach, especially in a moral or instructional way. This doesn't fit the context of a critique that exposes how the museum show softened the work's violence.
• Option B: "incisive" means clear, sharp, and perceptive. The art historian's critique is described as peeling back the museum's wall text and marketing to expose an issue, which requires a sharp and perceptive critique. This fits well.
• Option C: "diffuse" means spread out or not concentrated. A diffuse critique would not be able to expose the issue clearly, so this is incorrect.
• Option D: "arcane" means mysterious or understood by few. The critique is exposing something, not being mysterious, so this is incorrect.

Answer:

B. incisive