shivani.magan wrote:I can't understand why much more free in C is wrong ?
Also can you help with why E is wrong?

Hi,

Choice C: In Contrast to those of Haydn, the symphonies of Mahler demonstrate a much more free use of dissonance.
In this choice, the phrase "much more free use" is unidiomatic. Phrase "use (or uses) X much more freely" is the correct idiom. The unidiomatic expression makes this choice incorrect.

Choice E:: In contrast with Haydn's symphonies, those of Mahler use dissonance much more freely.
In this choice, there is this construction, In contrast with X, Y where X and Y must be grammatically as well as logically parallel. Here, X and Y are logically parallel but they are not grammatically parallel, especially when the entity can be written in the form to make it absolutely parallel to the other. X is in possessive while Y is a noun phrase.

Hope this helps.
Shraddha

i received a PM about this thread.

what's the source of this question?

it's not a good question. first, all of the choices have a fundamental problem: "in contrast to..." is incompatible with comparatives, such as "more ADJ" or "ADJ-er". it has to be one or the other.

examples:
my brother is taller and skinnier than i am.
--> correct

in contrast to me, my brother is tall and skinny.
--> correct (note absolute adjectives "tall" and "skinny", NOT comparative adjectives "taller"/"skinnier"; the comparison is implied by "in contrast").

in contrast to me, my brother is taller and skinnier.
--> incorrect. you can view this either as redundant or as combining 2 incompatible constructions; either way, it's wrong.
this sentence has the same issue in all 5 choices. it's a serious issue, and one that has been tested regularly on GMAC's comparison problems.

ignore. run away.

sui generis wrote:Ron is a rockstar! Excellent concept excellently explained.

thanks.