In contrast to the symphonies of Haydn, a much freer use of

Question

In contrast to the symphonies of Haydn, a much freer use of dissonance is evident in the symphonies of Mahler.

(A) In contrast to the symphonies of Haydn, a much freer use of dissonance is evident in the symphonies of Mahler.
(B) In contrast with Haydn's symphonies, Mahler uses dissonance much more freely.
(C) In contrast to those of Haydn, the symphonies of Mahler demonstrate a much more free use of dissonance.
(D) In contrast to Haydn's symphonies, Mahler's demonstrate a much freer use of dissonance.
(E) In contrast with Haydn's symphonies, those of Mahler use dissonance much more freely.

EBITDA · Accepted Answer

In contrast to the symphonies of Haydn, a much freer use of dissonance is evident in the symphonies of Mahler.

A) In contrast to the symphonies of Haydn, a much freer use of dissonance is evident in the symphonies of Mahler.
 The comparison between "the symphonies of Haydn" and a "use of dissonance" is illogical.  
B) In contrast with Haydn's symphonies, Mahler uses dissonance much more freely.
 The comparison between "Haydn's symphonies" and "Mahler" is illogical. 
C) In contrast to those of Haydn, the symphonies of Mahler demonstrate a much more free use of dissonance.
 What does "those of" refer to? When put at the beginning of the sentence, it leaves the reader thinking what does it refer to until it reads the second part of the sentence.
"much more free use" is wordier than "much freer use" 
D) In contrast to Haydn's symphonies, Mahler's demonstrate a much freer use of dissonance.
E) In contrast with Haydn's symphonies, those of Mahler use dissonance much more freely.
 The second part of the sentence implies that the symphonies of Mahler use dissonance, but a symphony cannot use anything. It is rather people who can use or not use something. This error is mitigated in option D, where the construction "Mahler's demonstrate a much freer use..." allows for someone else to use dissonance.

The clear candidates are options D and E. If you can provide additional reasons for discarding option E, they will be very welcome.

vinayakv · Answer

Hi Yashii9,

The problem in the original sentence is that the comparison is wrong. So, we eliminate the options A and B. Now, we are left with C, D and E. In E, there is idiomatic error in "In Contrast with". So we are left with C and D. Now in C, the phrase "a much more free" is wordier and clumsy(Also changing the original wording in the sentence above) than the original one "a much freer use". Hence, eliminating C. The correct option is D.

Cheers,
Vinayak

yashii9 · Answer

not too comfortable with " In contrast to Haydn's symphonies, Mahler's "

just sounds incomplete to me.

vinayakv · Answer

Comparison is correct in both C and D. The problem is with the change i posted in the earlier reply.

vomhorizon · Answer

not too comfortable with " In contrast to Haydn's symphonies, Mahler's " just sounds incomplete to me.

It is clear from the first part that we are comparing (contrasting) haydn's symphonies with someone else's .. In the second part it is clearly mentioned that hayden's symphonies are being contrasted with those of mahler (mahler's ..) .. We need not mention the word symphony again , or resort to writing a larger sentence such as ... In contrast to haydn's symphonies, the symphonies of Mayhler .....

example

Version 1 . In contrast to Ralph's jumpshot, the jumpshot of kobe is better..

Version 2. In contrast to ralph's jump shot, kobe's is better....

Version 2 sounds better, conveys the meaning and is shorter ..

Qoofi · Answer

Option D & E are grammatically correct. Since we are emphasizing the differences between the two musicians' symphonies, shouldn't the correct option be E? 
Experts?

BassanioGratiano · Answer

According to Platinum GMAT, "In contrast with X, Y" and "In contrast to X, Y" are both idiomatically correct. Is there another reason we would eliminate E?

singshe · Answer

In contrast to the symphonies of Haydn, a much freer use of dissonance is evident in the symphonies of Mahler.

the comparison is b/w Symphonies of Haydn and Symphonies of Mahler . In ans .choice we can expect the comparision b/w Haydn and Mahler but the intended meaning should not change .

Also note that in GMAT noun's noun and can not be parallel to noun of noun as in- Ram's book can not be parallel to Book of ram

(A) In contrast to the symphonies of Haydn, a much freer use of dissonance is evident in the symphonies of Mahler. -  wrong construction the better idiom is  In contrast to X,Y  
(B) In contrast with Haydn's symphonies, Mahler uses dissonance much more freely.-wrong comparison - Haydn's symphonies is contrasted to Mahler  
(C) In contrast to those of Haydn, the symphonies of Mahler demonstrate a much more free use of dissonance.--  here the comparison is corrected but intended meaning is changed by introducing much more free use of dissonance - more then what???? -more should be followed by than what???? 
(D) In contrast to Haydn's symphonies, Mahler's demonstrate a much freer use of dissonance.-- -correct comparison  
(E) In contrast with Haydn's symphonies, those of Mahler use dissonance much more freely.- --noun's noun can not be parallel to noun of noun

goforgmat · Answer

IMO ,Grammatically both D and E are correct . Those can create a copy of the noun it is referring to , but there is a meaning error in E.
E suggests that Symphonies themselves use dissonance . It is the composer who has used dissonance not the symphonies.
@sayantanc2k,@chetan2u - experts Any thoughts?

DaenerysStormborn · Answer

E is missing the evidence or (demonstration) of use

the meaning is slightly altered.Hence wrong

Navinder · Answer

Hi Experts,

Is "those of" in the beginning incorrect? Or choice C is incorrect because of wordiness. Thanks

abhimahna · Answer

Choice C is incorrect because of wordiness. Had d been wrong, we would have chosen C the correct answer.

aaba · Answer

Kaplan advanced has confirmed that D is OA.
This is official explanation from Kaplan.
Lesson: in contrast to is a correct idiom.
Also, the object in D can be implied.

Bunuel · Answer

KAPLAN OFFICIAL EXPLANATION:

This sentence compares the use of dissonance in the symphonies of Mahler and Haydn. The original sentence compares Haydn's symphonies to a freer use of dissonance, but comparisons must compare like objects (symphonies to symphonies, dissonance to dissonance). Eliminate (A) and (B) for breaking that rule. Focus on the different endings in the three remaining choices: Is a much more free use of dissonance, a much freer use of dissonance, or using dissonance much more freely correct? The first wrongly replaces freer with more free, so eliminate it, but the remaining options are both acceptable. (D) and (E) differ with respect to the initial phrase, so should it be in contrast to or in contrast with? The first is the correct idiom, so (D) is the right answer. Notice that the object of the comparison can be implied as long as the structure is parallel (Mahler's in (D) equals Mahler's symphonies).

betorocks · Answer

magoosh. com /gmat/2013/gmat-idioms-of-comparison

It is clearly mentioned in the article above that both in contrast to and in contrast with are correct idiom. Could it be that D uses similar construction and hence is correct

Posted from my mobile device

Arro44 · Answer

Ay macarena, I think this prolblem was quite a challenge.

I was able to eliminate some points due to wrong idoms as wrong comparisions. In the end I chose the shorter of my two remaining choices and got lucky.

Sidharth8 · Answer

A and B have comparison issues. A compares ‘’the symphonies of Haydn’’ to “use of dissonance”.
B compares “Haydn’s symphonies” to “Mahler”
C is poorly constructed, as is leaves “those” ambiguous, until later in the sentence.
E is incorrect because it implies that the symphonies use dissonance. Symphonies cannot use something, the person who wrote the symphony will use dissonance.
 
So D is the correct answer

minustark · Answer

Can we use much freer? Sounding odd to my non-native ears.

GMATWhizTeam · Answer

Hi "Free" has the comparative and the superlative "Freer" and "Freest", but the use of "more/most" are more common with free when indicating the comparative and superlative comparisons. So, both are correct, though "more free" is much more common than "freer". Hope this helps

In contrast to the symphonies of Haydn, a much freer use of

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In contrast to the symphonies of Haydn, a much freer use of

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