Yo-yo Ma, whom according to the classical cellists of the world is per

Question

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 a 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

BillyZ · Accepted Answer

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION 
The correct response is ( B ).

This is by no means a “perfect” sentence (and is a bit wordier than we might hope), but it is grammatically correct. It also avoids the problems in meaning contained in the other options.

If you chose (A), “ whom ” is used incorrectly here. You use " who " when you are referring to the  subject  and " whom " when you are referring to the  object . Since “Yo-yo Ma” is clearly the subject, “who” would be correct. Additionally “ ever-changing ” and “ versatile ” are  redundant .

If you chose (C), we have some issues with meaning. The “ classical world ” is somewhat  unclear , and since we know Yo-yo Ma plays in a variety of genres, including “modern minimalism,” it’s clear that is not the intended meaning of the sentence. In addition, the word “ yet ” implies a contrast, but the Yo-Yo Ma’s versatility is exemplified by the list of genres in which he plays. The two ideas are not meant to disagree.

If you chose (D), this is a sentence fragment. Each of the three dependent clauses describe the subject, “Yo-yo Ma,” but we are  never given a predicate verb  to make the sentence a  complete thought .

If you chose (E), as with (A), “whom” is used incorrectly. Only “who” can take the place of a subject. Additionally, “every-changing” and “versatile” are redundant.

82vkgmat · Answer

Will go with B.
A) whom according to - Wrong
B) Correct - considered correctly indicates the person, plays in... also signifies the person, which implies the style correctly. No issues
C) too much repetition
D) modifiers all wrong - looked on by is not right.
E) whom is wrong.

EliLTG · Answer

Choice B looks a little fishy to me. "Considered perhaps the world's best" is a very clunky phrase for a number of reasons; the pronoun "which" refers to Yo-Yo Ma's style, but the verb "employs" is something Ma does himself, not something his style does; and the phrase "at the same time" is confusing. Can you confirm the OA?

GMATPill · Answer

(B) is fine here. While (B) can be improved - it is better than the other choices available.

"Employs" can be used to describe the style. It is a type of style that EMPLOYS A, B, and C.

(B) can be improved with "Considered as perhaps the best" --GMAT folks usually have the word AS in there.

You can say:

"This GMAT technique employs elements of A, B, and C." Sure, the actual test taker is the one who actually employs those elements. But it's also fine to describe the overall technique as something that employs A, B, and C.

Also - if you really wanted to use a WHOM in there -- you would have to say: "Yo-yo Ma, with whom blah blah blah..."

kinghyts · Answer

In " ..... versatile style, which at the same time employs.....  ", can someone explain why and how the which referring to "versatile style " can "employ" the aspects of genres.

I believe it should be "Yo-yo Ma" who employ the aspects of genres.

Experts please comment

dina98 · Answer

A)whom is wrong
B) sounds ok - therefore correct
C) changes meaning (best cellists?)
D) where is the verb?
E)whom is wrong

gmatser1 · Answer

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
  "whom" is incorrect here. It should be "who is,".

B)  considered  perhaps the world’s best by the classical cellists of the world, plays in a versatile style, which at the same time employs
  Correct

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
  This is wordy and also changes the meaning of the original sentence by adding "best".

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
  "Looked on" is the wrong idiom. Who is unnecessary.

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
  "Looks on" is the wrong idiom.

leanhdung · Answer

Hi daagh ! Please have a look at and check my reasoning!

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
"whom" is incorrect here. It should be "who is,".

B) considered perhaps the world’s best by the classical cellists of the world, plays in a versatile style, which at the same time employs
Correct

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
This is wordy and also changes the meaning of the original sentence by adding "best".

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
"Looked on" is the wrong idiom. Who is unnecessary.

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
"Looks on" is the wrong idiom.

daagh · Answer

Just two comments. 
 
 I feel that 'who' does modify correctly 'the world's best' meaning the best person. Therefore, we may pass it. 'Which' also is not modifying 'own' because 'own' is no noun; in essence, 'which' modifies the style, the relative pronoun's nearest noun and in that sense is passable. D is essentially wrong because this is a fragment having no verb for the subject yo-yo Ma

Here we should not consider cellists; We must consider the word 'world' as the referent since 'of classical cellists' is a prepositional middleman, which can be temporarily ignored for the purpose of deciding the S-V agreement. However, your redundancy point is more convincing.

leanhdung · Answer

Yeah I got your points

Many thanks daagh ! I also see that we can eliminate E because two modifiers versatile and ever-changing are joined by comma (,) .

gmatacer40 · Answer

Dear Experts,
I am unable to understand, why the usage of "Whom" is incorrect in option E. I feel that "world of classical cellists" is the subject of the relative clause.

Prateek176 · Answer

daagh  sir

I am still not clear why C is incorrect. Could you please help??

daagh · Answer

Prateek

Issue1. "plays in a versatile style, yet". The word versatile defines the multi-talentedness of Yo Yo. As such, the contrast word 'yet' is antithetical and counterproductive.
2. The description 'by the world’s best classical cellists as the best cellist of the classical world' is clumsy in the least.

shekhu · Answer

Even if the question implies the usage of employ as "make use of", it still doesn't make the meaning clear.. style does not make use of aspects of genres.. it is the musician Yo-yo Ma, who employes these geners in his style.. overall I wasn't a big fan of this question.

saurabh9gupta · Answer

I do not understand how you guys (ppl who got it correct) tackled this question.

ThisIsWater · Answer

Hi  daagh ,

Here the sentence does present some contrast as Yo-Yo plays in an ever-changing style yet employs the standard genres of American....etc., Is my reasoning correct?

CuriosStud · Answer

daagh  don't you think in correct option B, The which is modifying style and thus meaning yo yo plays in versatile style at the same time style employs different genre?

Can be whom in option in considered absolutely wrong usage in GMAT?

aniket16c · Answer

Dear Experts,
 VeritasKarishma   GMATNinja   GMATNinja Two  MikeScarn   mikemcgarry

I would appreciate your help in clearing some doubts:
1. In option B, as per my understanding which refers to "versatile style". If that is true how can " a style" employ difference aspects of genres. Nonetheless use of "which" does create a confusion.
2. If above factor is taken into consideration then, isn't option C pretty clear from meaning perspective? In such a case, the use of "yet" can be overlooked.

Thank you.

KarishmaB · Answer

A style can be influenced by different aspects of genres. No issues there.

Option (C) says that he is considered the best cellist of the classical world. All other options just say that he is the best cellist. Do we intend to say that he is the best of the classical world? Not sure considering he employed aspects of modern minimalism too. Also, "yet" is a problem. Hence, I wouldn't go with (C).

Yo-yo Ma, whom according to the classical cellists of the world is per

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Yo-yo Ma, whom according to the classical cellists of the world is per

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