SC pronoun and redundancy

This topic has expert replies
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 120
Joined: Sat Dec 05, 2015 11:09 am

SC pronoun and redundancy

by gocoder » Fri Nov 18, 2016 7:55 am
Yo-yo Ma, whom according to the classical cellists of the world is perhaps the world's best, plays in a versatile style which is ever-changing but which also employs aspects of genres as varied as Baroque, American bluegrass, and modern minimalism.

A.whom according to the classical cellists of the world is perhaps the world's best, plays in a versatile style which is ever-changing but which also employs

B.considered perhaps the world's best by the classical cellists of the world, plays in an ever-changing, versatile style, which at the same time employs

C.regarded by the world's best classical cellists as the best cellist of the classical world, plays in an ever-changing style, yet employs

D.looked on by the classical cellists of the world as perhaps the world's best, who plays in an ever-changing style all his own, which also employs

E.whom the world of classical cellists looks on as the best, plays in a versatile, ever-changing style while at the same time employing
Source: — Sentence Correction |

User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 2135
Joined: Mon Feb 03, 2014 9:26 am
Location: https://martymurraycoaching.com/
Thanked: 955 times
Followed by:140 members
GMAT Score:800

by MartyMurray » Fri Nov 18, 2016 11:10 pm
(A)... whom ... is the world's best ...

"whom" is an object pronoun rather than a subject pronoun.

So this version is immediately out.

If you want more reasons to eliminate it, notice that what "best" he is is not clear, and "but which also" is awkward and wordy and does not really make sense. "but which also" nonsensically contrasts also doing something with being ever-changing.

For clarity, check out this example.

John is ever changing but also eats almonds.

Contrasting "also eating almonds" with being ever-changing does not make sense, and neither does contrasting "also employs aspects" with being ever-changing.

(B) ... considered perhaps the world's best ...

The worlds best what?

Does his style employ or does he employ? This is not a clear flaw, but given this potential issue combined with the clearer "world's best" issue, this is likely not the best answer choice.

(C) while "regarded by the best cellists as the best cellist" may seem to be somehow redundant, actually it makes sense. They are a group of the best, and they feel that he is number one.

Also, in this version he employs.

This choice seems to be the right answer.

(D) "looked on" does not make sense. I am not even sure what it means in this context. He is looked on?

Also, even though in this version cellists are mentioned before "the world's best", the best what is still not clear.

Also present is the less clear issue that the style rather than he employs. This is not, however, a clear decision point, as conceivably a style could employ things.

(E) Now "whom" actually works, as the pronoun is an object. To clarify you could substitute "him". They "look on him as the best."

However, the best what is not clear, and the nonsensical "looked on" is used again.

Also, I guess "while" already means "at the same time". So "at the same time" is redundant.

The correct answer is C.
Marty Murray
Perfect Scoring Tutor With Over a Decade of Experience
MartyMurrayCoaching.com
Contact me at [email protected] for a free consultation.

• Page 1 of 1