Similar to other abstract artists, the works of Wassily Kandinsky

Question

Similar to other abstract artists, the works of Wassily Kandinsky built on an idealization focusing initially on  non-objective expression, wherein sensations and emotions could be evoked without the use of identifiable objects, as in music.

A) Similar to other abstract artists, the works of Wassily Kandinsky built on an idealization focusing initially on

B) Similar to other abstract artists, Wassily Kandinsky created works that built on an idealization that focused initially on

C) As with other abstract artists, Wassily Kandinsky created works that built on an idealization focusing initially in

D) Like other abstract artists, Wassily Kandinsky’s works built on an idealization focusing initially on

E) Like the works of other abstract artists, the works of Wassily Kandinsky built on the idealization focused initially on

Source: Ready4GMAT

daagh · Answer

Similar to other abstract artists, the works of Wassily Kandinsky built on an idealization focusing initially on  non-objective expression, wherein sensations and emotions could be evoked without the use of identifiable objects, as in music.

A) Similar to other abstract artists, the works of Wassily Kandinsky built on an idealization focusing initially on ---- faulty comparison.

B) Similar to other abstract artists, Wassily Kandinsky created works that built on an idealization that focused initially on – Though grammatically correct, the use of’’ similar to’ to start a sentence is not stylistic.

C) As with other abstract artists, Wassily Kandinsky created works that built on an idealization focusing initially in ---‘as with’ is improper diction.

D) Like other abstract artists, Wassily Kandinsky’s works built on an idealization focusing initially on—faulty comparison.

E) Like the works of other abstract artists, the works of Wassily Kandinsky built on the idealization focused initially on – Correct comparison and choice.

ExpertsGlobal5 · Answer

Dear Friends,

Here is a detailed explanation to this question-

Choice A:  This answer choice incorrectly compares "works" to "abstract artists". Thus, this answer choice is incorrect.

Choice B:  This answer choice is grammatically correct; however, the use of the phrase "Similar to..." in the beginning of a sentence is somewhat awkward. Thus, this answer choice is not a very good one.

Choice C:  This answer choice uses the phrase "as with" to make a comparison; this usage is idiomatically incorrect. Thus, this answer choice is incorrect.

Choice D:  This answer choice repeats the error seen in Option A. Thus, this answer choice is incorrect.

Choice E:  This answer choice maintains proper idiom use and comparison throughout the sentence and is quite concise. Thus, this answer choice is correct.

Hence, E is the best answer choice.

All the best!
Experts' Global Team

GMATWhizTeam · Answer

STEP 1 - UNDERSTANDING INTENDED MEANING
 
Let’ break the sentence to derive the intended meaning, identifying the errors along the way:

Similar to other abstract artists, the works of Wassily Kandinsky 
built on an idealization 
focusing initially on  non-objective expression, 
wherein sensations and emotions could be evoked without the use of identifiable objects, as in music.

ERRORS:

1. The comparison being drawn in the above construction is  between the “abstract artists” and “the works” – This comparison is illogical  and in that sense not parallel. We can compare other artists with Wassily or we can compare the works of other artists and the works of Wassily.
2.  SV does not exist in pair  – If we look closely, there is  no verb for the subject “the works”.  “Built” is modifying “the works” and “focusing” is incorrectly modifying “idealization”. At least one of these modifiers needs to be a verb

INTENDED MEANING

• The works of Wassily are similar to the works of other abstract artists
• The works of Wassily are built on idealization.
• The works of both the other abstract artists and Wassily focussed on non-objective expression.
• In such a kind of expression sensations and emotions could be evoked without the use of identifiable objects, as in music.

STEP 2 - ELIMINATE CHOICES WITH IDENTIFIED ERRORS
 
B) Similar to other abstract artists, Wassily Kandinsky created works that built on an idealization that focused initially on
 (Conveys the meaning that the idealization focussed on something. Incorrect)

C) As with other abstract artists, Wassily Kandinsky created works that built on an idealization focusing initially in
 (Conveys the meaning that the idealization was focusing on something. Incorrect)

D) Like other abstract artists, Wassily Kandinsky’s works built on an idealization focusing initially on
 (the comparison is between the artists and Wassily’s works. Incorrect Choice)
 
E) Like the works of other abstract artists, the works of Wassily Kandinsky built on the idealization focused initially on
 (In line with our analysis in step 1. Correct)

VerbalBot · Answer

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Similar to other abstract artists, the works of Wassily Kandinsky

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Similar to other abstract artists, the works of Wassily Kandinsky

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