Sea and air travel are much safer now than they were in the past

Question

Sea and air travel are much safer now than they were in the past  because computers used to make accurate predictions based in part on detailed information on how storms are formed by weather forecasters.

A. because computers used to make accurate predictions based in part on detailed information on how storms are formed by weather forecasters

B. due to the use of computers that accurately make predictions based in part on detailed information on the formation of storms by weather forecasters

C. because weather forecasters’ use of computers makes predictions that are accurately based in part on detailed information on storm formation

D. due to computers used to accurately make predictions based in part on detailed information on the formation of storms by weather forecasters

E. because of weather forecasters’ using computers to make accurate predictions based in part on detailed information on how storms are formed

sebo08 · Answer

A. because computers  used to  make accurate predictions based in part on detailed information on how storms are formed by weather forecasters

The did not use to, they do it now. eliminate

B. due to the use of computers that accurately make predictions based in part on detailed information on the formation of storms  by weather forecasters

weather forecasters form storms? or they offer detailed information? ambiguous. eliminate

C. because weather forecasters’ use of computers makes predictions that are accurately based in part on detailed information on storm formation

there's an apostrophe, "use" is correctly used as noun.  sea and air travel are faster ...because...use of computers...makes predictions that are accurate.   The problem is USE OF COMPUTERS DOES NOT MAKE PREDICTIONS, THE COMPUTERS THEMSELVES DO.

D. due to computers used to accurately make predictions based in part on detailed information on the formation of storms by weather forecasters

weather forcasters form storms? or they offer detailed information? ambiguous. eliminate

E. because of weather forecasters’ using computers to make accurate predictions based in part on detailed information on how storms are formed

the apostrophe causes the "using" to become an adjective for computers, (e.g. Tom's "broken" computers = forecasters' "using" computers) which d oes not make sense meaningwise . eliminate
even if it was not there, it would be more appropriate to say "forcasters  usage  of computers"

aash932 · Answer

Abhi077   GMATNinja   generis   VeritasKarishma  
Hi, 
Can anyone tell that why we have used '-ing' form in Option E and why this option is correct?

Abhi077 · Answer

This choice conveys the logical meaning. Why is the sea and air travel much safer now? It's because of weather forecaster's using of computers to make accurate predictions. The use of possessive 'forecasters' along with gerund "using" may sound incorrect but it is indeed correct. refer to a similar structure in this official question https://gmatclub.com/forum/the-world-wi ... 03470.html

richirish · Answer

E is the best choice, B completely distorts the meaning, it implies that the storms are being formed by the weather forecasters. 
Good question

VerbalBot · Answer

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Sea and air travel are much safer now than they were in the past

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