OFFICIAL EXPLANATIONProject SC Butler: Sentence Correction (SC2)
For SC butler Questions Click Here THE PROMPTQuote:
Because a shortage of truffles has sent prices soaring, the farm cooperative has declared that it will increase production by acquiring six new truffle-hunting pigs.
• Due to
→ Often you can substitute
attributable to or
caused by for
due to; if
caused by does not make sense,
due to is wrong.
→
Due to is not, thus far, preferred on the GMAT;
because of is preferred.
→ Both
because of and
due to are prepositions that must be followed by nouns or noun phrases, but important differences exist between the two prepositions.
Because of is an adverb. It modifies
verbs.→
I tried to avoid driving because of the icy roads. (WHY did I try to avoid driving?
Because of modifies
avoid driving.)
Due to is an adjective. It modifies nouns. It cannot modify verbs.
→
His tennis comeback was due to his dedication and a new coach. ("Due to" modifies
comeback, a noun.)
→
due to cannot modify an action.
THE OPTIONSQuote:
A) Because a shortage of truffles has sent prices soaring,
• I do not see any errors
Quote:
B) Because of soaring prices for truffles, which is due to a shortage,
• noun/verb error or a case of the missing antecedent for
which →
which could logically refer to
soaring prices (for truffles), but in that case the phrasing would be
which are, plural.
That is,
which would equal
soaring prices; those soaring prices
are (plural) due to a shortage.
→ maybe "which is" does not have an antecedent.
The possible antecedents are
prices and
truffles.Both are plural. This
which is singular (we know from the verb
is).
Eliminate B
Quote:
C) Because truffle prices have been sent soaring, which resulted from a shortage,
• which cannot refer to a whole clause and requires a noun antecedent
→ in this option,
which tries to stand for the whole idea in the previous clause,
The word
which, a relative pronoun, cannot modify the entire previous clause.
Which requires a noun or pronoun antecedent and cannot stand in for the entire clause "because truffle prices have been sent soaring."
GMAC frequently tests this aspect of
which.Look for an identifiable noun that is the antecedent of
which.
If you do not see an identifiable noun, unless you are in extreme circumstances (
one question at most on the whole exam, and in that question the other four options will be abominable), discard options that use
which to stand for an unstated noun.
Eliminate C
Quote:
D) Due to soaring truffle prices from a shortage,
•
Due to cannot modify verbs. In this instance, "due to" is trying incorrectly to modify [farmers] declared, for example.
Eliminate D
Quote:
E) Due to a shortage, with the result that truffle prices have been sent soaring,
[/quote]
•
Due to is incorrect
→ Same issues as those in Option D
•
with the result that is clumsy and verbose.
Eliminate E
The answer is A.I found a short, clear article about the differences among because, because of, and due to.
You can find that article by clicking
here.
COMMENTSVatsal7794 and
Snehaaaaa ,welcome to SC Butler.
We are glad to have you.
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You have all done well.
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