GMAT Verbal SC – ‘Because of’ and ‘Due to’ Practice Question #2
Question –
In a keto diet, when the body’s glucose level is reduced due to the diet’s low carbohydrate content, the body acts as if it is in a starvation state — although they are not — and beginning to burn fats instead of carbohydrates yielding chemicals called ketone bodies as an alternative source of fuel.
- Due to the diet’s low carbohydrate content, the body acts as if it is in a starvation state — although they are not — and beginning to burn fats instead of carbohydrates yielding chemicals
- Due to the diet’s low carbohydrate content, the body acts as if it is in a starvation state — although it is not — and begins to burn fats instead of carbohydrates, yielding chemicals
- Caused by the diet’s low carbohydrate content, the body acts as if it is in a starvation state — although it is not — and beginning to burn fats instead of carbohydrates, yielding chemicals
- Because of the diet’s low carbohydrate content, the body acting as if it is in a starvation state — although it is not — and begins to burn fats instead of carbohydrates, yielding chemicals
- Because of the diet’s low carbohydrate content, the body acts as if it is in a starvation state — although it is not — and begins to burn fats instead of carbohydrates, yielding chemicals
Correct Answer: E
Solution –

Step 1: Understanding Intended Meaning
In a keto diet, when the body’s glucose level is reduced due to the diet’s low carbohydrate content,
- We are talking about what happens in a keto diet.
- Use of “due to” is incorrect.
- “Due to” is being used to give the reason behind the verb “is reduced”.
- “Due to” is a noun modifier and not a verb modifier.
- Correct version : use “because of” to give the reason behind the verb.
- So, when the body’s glucose level is reduced because of the diet’s low carbohydrate content, something happens
the body acts as if it is in a starvation state – although they are not –
- NP pair does not agree in number
- “they” is referring to the singular “body”
- Correct version: it is not
- So, when the body’s glucose level is reduced……the body behaves in a certain manner
and beginning to burn fats instead of carbohydrates
- “and” is a list marker and is preceded by a clause. Thus, there should be another parallel clause after “and”.
- “beginning” is not a verb for “the body” – body acts…..and beginning
- The list is not grammatically parallel
- Correct version: body acts…….and begins to burn fats instead of carbohydrates
yielding chemicals called ketone bodies as an alternative source of fuel.
- “yielding” is used without a comma separating it from “carbohydrates” and so modifies the noun
- Modified entity +Modifier does not agree logically
- So, this construction conveys the illogical meaning that the carbohydrates are yielding chemicals.
- Correct version: ….. body acts…….and begins to burn fats instead of carbohydrates, yielding….
- Now yielding is modifying the verb “begins”.
Intended meaning:
- We are talking about what happens in a keto diet
- The body’s glucose level is reduced because of the diet’s low carbohydrate content
- When this happens, the body acts as if it is in a starvation state — although it is not – .
- Thereafter the body begins to burn fats instead of carbohydrates.
- This burning of fats yields chemicals called ketone bodies as an alternative source of fuel
Step 2: Eliminate choices with identified errors
Checking for five aspects –
- Golden rules
- NP pair does not agree in number
- Modified entity +Modifier does not agree logically
- Meaning
- Conveys illogical meaning
- Lists
- The list is not grammatically parallel- body acts…..and beginning
- Tenses
- No error
- Idioms
- Use of “due to” is incorrect
Eliminate
The following choice/s have one or more of the errors present in Choice A.
Choices B and C
Step 3: Evaluate meaning of remaining choices
To be done for Option D and E . Detailed out below each choice.
Choice A Analysis
Incorrect and Eliminated in Step 2
Choice B Analysis
Incorrect and Eliminated in Step 2
Choice C Analysis
Incorrect and Eliminated in Step 2
Choice D Analysis
Fitting in the original sentence:
In a keto diet, when the body’s glucose level is reduced because of the diet’s low carbohydrate content, the body acting as if it is in a starvation state — although it is not — and begins to burn fats instead of carbohydrates, yielding chemicals called ketone bodies as an alternative source of fuel.
- The body acting….and begins disturbs the parallelism.
Incorrect Choice.
Choice E Analysis
Fitting in the original sentence
In a keto diet, when the body’s glucose level is reduced because of the diet’s low carbohydrate content, the body acts as if it is in a starvation state — although it is not — and begins to burn fats instead of carbohydrates, yielding chemicals called ketone bodies as an alternative source of fuel.
- Logical
- Clear,
- Same as the intended meaning
Correct Choice.