An instrument of remarkable versatility, the organ emits tones that

Question

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

DinoPen · Answer

I think the answer is A.
Answers C-E are utilizing FANBOY's when they are not required. They need a subject that goes with each clause. After each FANBOY, the clause changes the meaning of the sentence.

I eliminated B because 'being' refers to the trombones. But, the sounds made refer to the organ.

engchi · Answer

I chose E because "blasting trumpets and lumbering trombones" are the opposite from "gentle". Therefore, there needs to be a transition in between to justify it. So A,B,D can be removed, and this leaves us C and E.
E sounds less awkward than C which has "being" in the answer. "yet" should be a parallelism signal and in E, "can" is parallel with "emits".

globaldesi · Answer

Being do raise a red flag but in this statement "being" seems to be correct.
Can someone explain why C is incorrect

PTD1995 · Answer

The use of the conjunction "yet" makes clearly that nevertheless the "organ" produces loudly tunes it may be harmonic.
In general, the use of being is not liked by GMAT.

gaurav2m · Answer

can anyone please explain how the correct choice is using the FANBOYS when the only verb is present without the subject.
As far as I remember if we want to parallel the sentence with conjunction without using a subject then we should not use the comma.

Please help me where I am getting wrong?
 egmat  ,@banuel  chetan2u  @daugh

ChelseaFan · Answer

Read the Original Sentence Carefully, Looking for Errors:

The underlined portion contains a modification error. The sentence gives us a clue that the trombone-tones are "lumbering" — they cannot also be gentle. In context, something else must be gentle. In this case, the organ’s tones are gentle, which means that there must be a conjunction and another verb to complete the sentence.

Scan and Group the Answer Choices:

The answer choices have a 2-2-1 split. Choices (A) and (B) fail to add a conjunction, choices (C) and (E) add the conjunction "yet," while choice (D) adds "and."

Eliminate Wrong Answer Choices:

Choices (A) and (B) can be eliminated because of the original error. Regarding choices (C), (D), and (E): Since there is an implied distinction made between the loud sounds of trumpets and trombones and the gentle sounds of the heavenly choir, the conjunction must show a contrast. "And" in choice (D) does not show contrast, and it actually creates a run-on sentence by failing to add a new verb. "Yet" in choices (C) and (E) provides the necessary contrast, but only Answer Choice (E) also provides the necessary verb "can be;" choice (C) also uses a wordy "being" construction that is not favored by the GMAT testmaker. Choice (E) is correct.

TAKEAWAY: Be sure to read for logic and meaning in Sentence Correction.

sid993 · Answer

'blasting trumpets and lumbering trombones' is a contrast from 'gentle'.
Between C and E.
The organ is a non living entity. It can't be something.
'Being' here used is a state of being like being happy ,sad, gentle etc.
The instrument/organ can be gentle.

anaDarmas · Answer

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   can be so gentle?

WarriorWithin · Answer

The meaning of the sentence is "even though the organ emits  tones that imitate blasting trumpets and lumbering trombones   , 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.

Basshead · Answer

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

-- 'so gentle' is describing trombones; we need contrast.

B. trombones being so gentle

-- 'so gentle' is describing trombones; we need contrast.

C. trombones, yet  being  so gentle

-- use of 'being' is incorrect

D. trombones, and  so gentle

-- Parallelism issue

E.  trombones, yet can be so gentle

-- Corrects all the issues. E is the answer.

Pankaj0901 · Answer

Request experts to please explain this- explanations shared in this thread are good but not so convincing..
 Bunuel   generis

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An instrument of remarkable versatility, the organ emits tones that

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GMAT Sentence Correction (SC - EA only) Questions

An instrument of remarkable versatility, the organ emits tones that

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