GMAT Verbal SC – ‘Because of’ and ‘Due to’ Practice Question #2

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.

1. 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
2. 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
3. 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
4. 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
5. 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 –

1. Golden rules
   • NP pair does not agree in number
   • Modified entity +Modifier does not agree logically
2. Meaning
   • Conveys illogical meaning
3. Lists
   • The list is not grammatically parallel- body acts…..and beginning
4. Tenses
   • No error
5. 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.