Last visit was: 19 Nov 2025, 06:37 It is currently 19 Nov 2025, 06:37
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
GmatKnightTutor
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 31 Jan 2020
Last visit: 01 Nov 2025
Posts: 5,228
Own Kudos:
1,568
 [2]
Given Kudos: 18
Posts: 5,228
Kudos: 1,568
 [2]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
Sneha2021
Joined: 20 Dec 2020
Last visit: 10 Jun 2025
Posts: 314
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 522
Location: India
Posts: 314
Kudos: 38
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
KarishmaB
Joined: 16 Oct 2010
Last visit: 18 Nov 2025
Posts: 16,267
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 482
Location: Pune, India
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 16,267
Kudos: 76,993
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
Raman109
Joined: 17 Aug 2009
Last visit: 28 Jul 2025
Posts: 805
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 33
Posts: 805
Kudos: 170
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Prospecting for gold during the California gold rush was a relatively easy task, because of erosion, prehistoric glacier movement, and ancient, gold-bearing riverbeds thrust to the surface by volcanic activity put gold literally within reach for anybody with a pan or shovel.

Option Elimination -
First, a quick clarification on "because of," "because," and "since."
"Because of" is a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun or a pronoun, indicating a cause or reason for something. E.g., He arrived late because of heavy traffic.
"Because" is a subordinating conjunction that introduces a subordinate clause, explaining the main clause's reason or cause. It suggests a stronger relationship between the clauses. E.g., He failed the test because he didn't study. The failure in the main clause is directly attributed to the reason mentioned in the subordinating clause, which is the lack of studying.
"Since" establishes a more general relationship between the main and subordinate clauses. It suggests that the reason in the subordinate clause is a contributing factor but not the necessary sole cause. E.g., Since it was raining, they decided to stay home. The rain mentioned in the subordinate clause is a contributing factor to their decision, but it may not be the only reason. There could be additional reasons not stated in the sentence.

Broadly, we need a "Because" (preferably without a comma) or "Since" to introduce a subordinate clause.


(A) because of erosion, prehistoric glacier movement, and ancient, gold-bearing riverbeds thrust to the surface by volcanic activity put gold literally within reach for - Here the subordinate clause is introduced by a prepositional phrase "because of". We need "Because" (preferably without a comma) or even better "since." Moreover, "within the reach of" is preferred.

(B) because of erosion, prehistoric glacier movement, and volcanic activity that thrust ancient, gold-bearing riverbeds to the surface, and putting gold literally within reach of - "Because of" and "putting" - wrong.

(C) owing to erosion, prehistoric glacier movement, and volcanic activity that had thrust ancient, gold-bearing riverbeds to the surface, and putting gold literally within reach of - "owing to" - prepositional phrase and "putting" - wrong.

(D) since erosion, prehistoric glacier movement, and volcanic activity that thrust ancient, gold-bearing riverbeds to the surface, putting gold literally within reach for - "putting" - wrong

(E) since erosion, prehistoric glacier movement, and ancient, gold-bearing riverbeds thrust to the surface by volcanic activity put gold literally within reach of- Perfect
   1   2   3 
Moderators:
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
7443 posts
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
231 posts
188 posts