Hi vikram4389,

'Because of' and 'due to' cannot be used interchangeably.
'Because of' is used to modify verbs, whereas 'due to' is used to modify nouns only.

Therefore, in your example, 'because of' is correct - Answer choice a)

Hope that helps!!

yeah i do agree and didn't have issues between these but patrick,mgmat instructor, said tha "due to" is correct in this sentence. therefore i thought it would be better if some expert can confirm my choice. i do feel a) makes more sense.

vikram4689 wrote:She had a terrible scar (because of/due to) her motorcycle crash

which one is correct ? actually both convey sense although a) seems more sensical

a)She had a terrible scar because of her motorcycle crash
this means that she 'HAD' scar because she crashed

b)She had a terrible scar due to her motorcycle crash
this means she had SCAR caused by crash

IMO both would make sense depending on what we want to emphasize:

1) if we want to emphasize SCAR then DUE TO makes sense
2) if we want to emphasize "SHE HAD A SCAR" then BECAUSE OF makes sense

BECAUSE OF modifies an entire clause (or VERB) while DUE TO a noun (both immediately preceding).

It appears writer of this sentence wants to say that BECAUSE OF MOTORCYCLE CRASH, SHE HAD A TERRIBLE SCAR .

Take another example: There was a fire because of drought - CORRECT SENTENCE because we want to emphasize the STATE OF BEING of fire, not just FIRE.

Does the OG contain most of the different "variations" �types of problems on the GMAT? From what I understand, the test-makers have to recycle different problems and usually just put a different twist to each type?