Historians create ideas we call "history," which are derived from an order existing in the real world of historical fact. Since the patterns discovered in that world depend in part on the aims of the investigator, however, historical periods will tend to be defined in incompatible ways by historians with different interests. Thus, insofar as the aims of historians of music, painting, literature, and poetry are different, it cannot be assumed that

Which of the following most logically completes the argument?

Correct answer marked below

real-world facts about art will ever be accurately represented

the accounts of these historians will ever be anything but arbitrary

the periods of artistic style delineated by these historians will coincide

Correct

the historical patterns defined by these historians will differ appreciably

there are any facts from which patterns of artistic style may be derived

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What this question tests

Whether you can complete the last sentence of an argument in a way that is logically consistent with it.

Choosing an option that sounds plausible but contradicts the argument or introduces new information.