MGMAT flashcard - 'due to' not used properly?

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MGMAT flashcard - 'due to' not used properly?

by bmanu » Thu Apr 23, 2009 5:56 pm
3 errors
Identify the errors:
Since 1973, the record was broken eight times due to technology that advanced even more rapidly than commentators have predicted.


ANSWER:
This question is about verb tense. Using “since” necessitates the
present perfect (“has been broken”) to indicate an action that continues
to occur over time. Similarly, since records are still being broken,
technology is likely still advancing (thus we must use “has advanced”).
Because the commentators’ predictions occurred before the records
were broken and are no longer in effect, the present perfect (“have
predicted”) is incorrect – past perfect or simple past must be used.
One correction: Since 1973, the record has been broken eight times
due to technology that has advanced even more rapidly than
commentators had predicted (or simply “predicted”).



https://www.manhattangmat.com/pdf/FlashCards_SC_2009.pdf


It sounds to me that 'due to' should not be used to mean 'on account of'
Isn't this the case in this question?
So rather than 3 errors, I feel like it should say there are 4 errors.

What do you think?
Source: — Sentence Correction |

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by lilu » Sat Apr 25, 2009 12:40 pm
https://web.ku.edu/~edit/because.html
Please check the link I've provided above.
It explains that "due to" is used with nouns (in the example from the MGMAT flashcard, due to is used with technology).
So, due to is used correctly there.
The more you look, the more you see.

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by abhinav101 » Sun Apr 26, 2009 11:14 am
@lilu : I disagree. The link you have provided makes it even clearer to me that 'because of' is the correct choice here.

The noun/verb phrase that you look for is not the cause that due to/ because of specifies. It is the event itself. Here it is 'the record has been broken eight times'. It is parallel to 'The crash occurred' as listed on the link you mentioned.

Hence, here due to seems to modify the verb 'broken', and hence the need for because of.

But that's my opinion.

PS: Thanks for the link...! It's awesome..! :)

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