Quote:
An instrument of remarkable versatility, the organ emits tones that imitate blasting trumpets and lumbering trombones so gentle that listeners seem to hear the prayer of the heavenly choir.
A. trombones so gentle
B. trombones being so gentle
C. trombones, yet being so gentle
D. trombones, and so gentle
E. trombones, yet can be so gentle
anaDarmas
In, the correct answer, option E. "trombones, yet can be so gentle" - is the subject of the clause after yet understood?
i.e. is option E: trombones, yet [the organ] can be so gentle?
The meaning of the sentence is "even though the organ emits
tones that imitate blasting trumpets and lumbering trombones [color=#ff0000], it is gentle that listeners seem to hear the prayer of the heavenly choir.
We need the necessary contrast here. Look at the adjectives in A, B - seems to modify the preceding noun entity "lumbering trombones" which is incorrect, it should modify the "tones". To deliver the right modification we need yet here. Look at C "being" -- states the present state - weird and incorrect
Look at D - and must follow parallelism, also sentence lacks the necessary contrast.
Try similar example on gmatclub - Even through heavy cloud cover, brilliant sunsets can fully brighten the sky being so momentary/ sky so momentary/ sky, also being so momentary/ sky yet be so momentary/ sky however momentary that a person could easily miss the display.
TAKEAWAY: CONTRAST - When an adjective is placed so that it modifies the wrong noun, the solution may be to create a compound predicate that correctly relates the subject to each of its qualities.