The number of acres destroyed by wildfires, which have become an ongoi

Question

The number of acres destroyed by wildfires, which  have become an ongoing threat due to drought and booming population density, have increased  dramatically over the past several years, prompting major concern among local politicians.

(A) have become an ongoing threat due to drought and booming population density, have increased

(B) have become an ongoing threat due to drought and booming population density, have been increasing

(C) has become an ongoing threat because of drought and booming population density, has increased

(D) have become an ongoing threat due to drought and booming population density, has increased

(E) have become an ongoing threat because of drought and booming population density, has increased

sayantanc2k · Accepted Answer

The difference between  due to  and  because of  is as follows:

Due to  is an adjective and needs a noun to refer to.
 Because of  is an adverb and needs a verb to refer to.

The game  was stopped   because of rain. Correct -  because of  referring to verb  was stopped .
The  stoppage  was due to rain. Correct -  due to  referring to noun  stoppage .
The game was stopped due to rain. wrong! -  due to   cannot  refer to verb  was stopp ed.

Similarly,

Wildfires  have become  threat due to drought. Wrong !...  due to  cannot refer to verb  have become .
Wildfires  have become  threat because of drought. Correct -  because of  referring to verb  have become .

Hence D is wrong. The OA given is correct.

metallicafan · Answer

+1 E

"The number" is singular. A and B out.
"wildfires" is plural. C out.
"Due to" means "caused by" or "resulting from". It would change the meaning.

CrackverbalGMAT · Answer

The number of acres destroyed by wildfires, which  have become an ongoing threat due to drought and booming population density, have increased  dramatically over the past several years, prompting major concern among local politicians.

(A) have become an ongoing threat  due to  drought and booming population density,  have  increased

(B) have become an ongoing threat  due to  drought and booming population density,  have  been increasing

(C)  has  become an ongoing threat because of drought and booming population density, has increased

(D) have become an ongoing threat  due to  drought and booming population density, has increased

(E)  have become an ongoing threat because of drought and booming population density, has increased

The core of the sentence is- the number of acres destroyed by wildfires has increased dramatically over the past several years.

As the subject of the sentence is “the number of acres”, we need to use the singular verb “has” and not “have”.  Eliminate options A and B.

The relative pronoun “which” refers to the noun “wildfires”. Hence, we need to use the plural verb “have” instead of “has”.  Eliminate option C.

Options D and E contain a difference in the idiomatic usage- “due to” and “because of”

“due to” connects two nouns whereas “because of” connects a clause with a noun.

Eg- The  flight’s cancellation  was due to  bad weather . ( noun on either side)
The  flight was canceled  because of  bad weather  ( connects a clause with a noun)

In the given sentence, let’s look at what we have to connect-
 Wildfires have become an ongoing threat  (clause) due to/ because of  drought and booming population density  (noun)
As we have a clause on one side and a noun on the other side, we have to use the idiom “because of”

Option E is correct.

VP
GMAT SME

Abhishek009 · Answer

Further to supplement the discussion go through this pdf - https://www.chompchomp.com/terms/subject.pdf

Also find time to read through this excellent articles:

Subject-Verb Agreement + Pronouns from Narenn.
Due to Vs Because of from e-GMAT.
Due to Vs Because of – GMAT Verbal from e-GMAT.

BillyZ · Answer

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION 
A first glance at the answer choices indicates a choice between “have become" and “has become" at the start of the underline: plural vs. singular verbs. The end of the underline also has a have vs have issue with a different verb: “have increased” versus “has increased." While reading the original sentence for meaning, keep these differences in mind.

The subject of the original sentence is "the number of acres," which is singular. The main verb, however, is "have increased," which is plural. We need to find a choice that replaces "have" with "has." Moreover, the phrase "due to" is incorrect in this context. "Due to" is a phrase that must describe a noun. "The fire was due to drought" is correct, but "There was a fire due to drought" is not. When describing a verb phrase, "because of" is preferable: "There was a fire because of drought."

(A) This choice is incorrect as it repeats the original sentence.

(B) The plural verb "have been" does not agree with the singular subject "the number of acres." In addition, the phrase "due to drought . . ." is unidiomatic since "because of" (not "due to") should be used to modify the verb phrase "have become an ongoing threat."

(C) The modifier "which has become an ongoing threat . . ." contains the singular verb "has" which does not agree with the plural subject of the clause, "wildfires."

(D) The phrase " due to drought  . . ." is  unidiomatic  since " because of " (not "due to") should be used to modify the verb phrase " have become an ongoing threat ."

(E) CORRECT. The singular verb "has" agrees with the singular subject "the number of acres." Additionally, " because of drought  . . ." is properly used to modify the verb phrase " have become an ongoing threat ."

mbasp · Answer

The number of......singular and requires "has". So eliminate A and B

Which is modifying "wildfires". So needs "have" and eliminate C

Between D and E, E is correct (because of)

crick20002002 · Answer

+1 for E.

First eliminator : "The number" is singular. So "has increased" is correct. Eliminate A and B.
Second eliminator: "wildfires" is plural, so the modifier phrase "which ....." should be plural. Eliminate C
Third eliminator: due is correct only if it can be replaced by "caused by".Because is more appropriate when a reason is given. Eliminate D

Hence Left with E

Crick

gmat2015p · Answer

The original sentence has subject verb agreement error
The number of acres = singular subject 
have = plural verb
Hence (A) and (B) are out 
C is out because it uses a singular verb 'has' for plural subject 'wildfires' 
D is out because it incorrectly uses used noun modifier 'due by' to modify the verb 'have become'

Hence E = CORRECT ANSWER

y4nkee · Answer

Another poor question/answer.

The answer should be D).
Due to clearly modifies the multiple noun "threats. We could as well replace "due to" with "caused by and the sentence is correct.

Please change the answer to (D).

Mbawarrior01 · Answer

IMO E is correct.

Alternate method to check is by asking the Question "Why".

"Because of " always answer "Why" : Why the wildfires have become threat ?  because of drought. . It correctly modifies "have become"

Another example : " The ongoing threat is due to drought". Here, due to modifies threat and the usage is correct.

Moreover, "due to" is often preceded by the verb "to be".

Sayantan  : Please correct me if I am wrong.

sayantanc2k · Answer

A. 
Yes, being an adjective "due to" normally follows a linking verb, one that joins a noun with its adjective.

The girl  is  beautiful.
The cake  tastes  good.
You  look  tired.

However the only linking verb that seems to go with the adjective "due to" is the verb "to be".
Correct: The stoppage  was  due to rain. 
Wrong: The cake  tastes  due to the cream. (This sentence is not correct since "due to" does not modify the noun "cake", but the verb "tastes".)

B.
The usage of "due to" can also be associated with "why", though the framed question may sometimes be awkward:

Why was the stoppage? (awkward)
The stoppage was due to rain.

Why was the delay? (not so awkward)
The delay was due to traffic jam.

shashanksagar · Answer

Thanks a lot.

Is the due to not referring to the noun threat? Or maybe my basics are weak.

sayantanc2k · Answer

The sentence conveys the meaning that the action (verb) "becoming" was caused by drought and booming population density. Hence " because of " is required. The sentence answers the question:

Why has it become?
NOT Why is the threat?

EducationAisle · Answer

In formal English,  due to  can be used only as an  adjective , whereas  because of  can be used only as an  adverb .

A handy way to distinguish is: If we  remove  the portion of the sentence starting with  due to , the leftover sentence  cannot  stand on its own as complete sentence. In option D, if we apply this technique, the leftover sentence is:

The number of acres destroyed by wildfires, which have become an ongoing threat, has increased dramatically over the past several years, prompting major concern among local politicians.

This leftover sentence  can  stand on its own as complete sentence. Hence, the usage of  due to  is  inappropriate  here, making D an  incorrect  choice.

Our book    EducationAisle Sentence Correction Nirvana    discusses the distinction between   due to  Vs  because of  . Have attached the corresponding section of the book, for your reference.

aa1411 · Answer

So I have a doubt, "the number of acres" portion. Aren't acres countable, so since the number of a countable noun would be plural, wouldn't it require the plural, have?

Or is the countable/non-countable debate only for "percent" (and not "number")? Appreciate the help in clearing my doubt!

ExpertsGlobal5 · Answer

Hello  aa1411 ,

We hope this finds you well.

To answer your query, the "number" of a thing is always considered singular because it refers conceptually to how many of that thing there are. Logically, there can only be one answer to the question "What is the number of X thing?"; here, "number" refers to a numerical value, such as "1", "23", "8 and 3 quarters", and not to the things themselves.

We hope this helps. 
All the best!
Experts' Global Team

aditiwadhan · Answer

A and B gone for using have increased of have been increasing
C - which has is wrong as the which refers to the wildfires (plural)
Between D and E difference comes down to the use of due to and because of

So obvious choice here is E

prachisaraf · Answer

I am a little confused with the "because of' part. How is the portion a verb here ? "Drought and booming population" are nouns, right ?

nivivacious · Answer

Rules for Because or Due to is a search away but GMAT prefers Because > Due to 90% times, so lets assume you dont have time and think of this - eliminate A, B, D 
 (A) have become an ongoing threat due to drought and booming population density, have increased
(B) have become an ongoing threat due to drought and booming population density, have been increasing
(D) have become an ongoing threat due to drought and booming population density, has increased

Althought The number is singular - which here is directed at Wildfires which is plural (or you can look at the split to do a double take instead of being stubborn about has) so C is out
 (C) has become an ongoing threat because of drought and booming population density, has increased

Remaining E - right answer

The number of acres destroyed by wildfires, which have become an ongoi

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards

GMAT Sentence Correction (SC - EA only) Questions

The number of acres destroyed by wildfires, which have become an ongoi

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards