"Due to" or " because"

[mgmt_gmat]

In California, a lack of genetic variation in the Argentine ant has allowed the species
to spread widely; due to their being so genetically similar to one another, the ants
consider all their fellows to be a close relative and thus do not engage in the kind of
fierce intercolony struggles that limits the spread of this species in its native
Argentina.
A. due to their being so genetically similar to one another, the ants consider
all their fellows to be a close relative and thus do not engage in the kind
of fierce intercolony struggles that limits.
B. Due to its being so genetically similar the ant considers all its fellows to be
a close relative and thus does not engage in the kind of fierce intercolnny
struggles that limit.
C. Because it is so genetically similar, the ant considers all its fellows to be
close relatives and thus does not engage in the kind of fierce intercolony
struggles that limits.
D. Because they are so genetically similar to one another, the ants consider
all their fellows to be close relatives and thus do not engage in the kind
of fierce intercolony struggles that limit.
E. Because of being so genetically similar to one another, the ants consider

[jhawar.rishikesh]

Its D.

the singular limits does not agree with struggles. This rules out A and C.
In B, the use of its (its being so genetically) is gramtically incorrect and seems awkward

[komal]

In California, a lack of genetic variation in the Argentine ant has allowed the species
to spread widely; due to their being so genetically similar to one another, the ants
consider all their fellows to be a close relative and thus do not engage in the kind of
fierce intercolony struggles that limits the spread of this species in its native
Argentina.
A. due to their being so genetically similar to one another, the ants consider
all their fellows to be a close relative and thus do not engage in the kind
of fierce intercolony struggles that limits.
B. Due to its being so genetically similar the ant considers all its fellows to be
a close relative and thus does not engage in the kind of fierce intercolnny
struggles that limit.
C. Because it is so genetically similar, the ant considers all its fellows to be
close relatives and thus does not engage in the kind of fierce intercolony
struggles that limits.
D. Because they are so genetically similar to one another, the ants consider
all their fellows to be close relatives and thus do not engage in the kind
of fierce intercolony struggles that limit.
E. Because of being so genetically similar to one another, the ants consider

We can rule out A, C and E because of the wrong usage 'struggles ...limits'.

B is wrong because the usage 'Due to its being ' sounds awkward

So it is D

[money9111]

so is there an underlying rule on when to use Due To vs. Because?

[sarthak]

but "a lack of genetic variation in the Argentine ant" and not ants . SO it is singular. So should'nt the pronoun also be singular . "it" and not they ? can anybody please clarify

[sumanr84]

mgmt_gmat, im repeating this for 3rd or 4th time - pls take time to underline the incorrect part..it saves our time.

IMO : D, IT and struggles has no relation here.

We need THEY here as we intend to say "ANTS" - who are genetically similar, its ANTS ( subject )

[kstv]

"because of" and "due to" are not interchangeable. "Because of" is as an adverb; "due to" is as an adjective. Adjectives modify only nouns or pronouns, whereas adverbs usually modify verbs.
(Adverbs occasionally modify other adverbs or even adjectives and entire phrases is not relevant to this particular discussion.)

Read the rest at https://web.ku.edu/~edit/because.html.

Now can we have some elimination of choices based purely on 'due to' and 'because'

IMO D

[rockeyb]

In California, a lack of genetic variation in the Argentine ant has allowed the species
to spread widely; due to their being so genetically similar to one another, the ants
consider all their fellows to be a close relative and thus do not engage in the kind of
fierce intercolony struggles that limits the spread of this species in its native
Argentina.
A. due to their being so genetically similar to one another, the ants consider
all their fellows to be a close relative and thus do not engage in the kind
of fierce intercolony struggles that limits.
B. Due to its being so genetically similar the ant considers all its fellows to be
a close relative and thus does not engage in the kind of fierce intercolnny
struggles that limit.
C. Because it is so genetically similar, the ant considers all its fellows to be
close relatives and thus does not engage in the kind of fierce intercolony
struggles that limits.
D. Because they are so genetically similar to one another, the ants consider
all their fellows to be close relatives and thus do not engage in the kind
of fierce intercolony struggles that limit.
E. Because of being so genetically similar to one another, the ants consider

Fist of all PLEASE underline the sentence and use the spoiler for answers .

Also I think this may be a typing mistake but if it is ,its a big one and changes the complete meaning of the sentence .

"In California, a lack of genetic variation in the Argentine ant has allowed the species
to spread widely; due to their being"

It shows that two sentences are connected by semicolon which means that both part that are connected by the semicolon must be able to stand alone as a main clause .

On the other hand the second part start with a DUE TO or a BECAUSE creating a subordinator .

So either there can be a semicolon or a subordinator but not both.

Please correct me if I am wrong.

[sumanr84]

It shows that two sentences are connected by semicolon which means that both part that are connected by the semicolon must be able to stand alone as a main clause .

On the other hand the second part start with a DUE TO or a BECAUSE creating a subordinator .

So either there can be a semicolon or a subordinator but not both.

Please correct me if I am wrong.

I agree..good point.

[berserk]

I just searched for the meaning of species
'spicies' can be either 'singular' or 'plural'

in my opinion, it should refer to the ant which is singular

so eliminate A D E

B seems awkward

I choose C

please correst if I'm wrong again

[okigbo]

How can you guys even dissect the problem w/out the underlying???

Soo annoying! It literally takes 5 secs to underline...

[gmatmachoman]

I just searched for the meaning of species
'spicies' can be either 'singular' or 'plural'

in my opinion, it should refer to the ant which is singular

so eliminate A D E

B seems awkward

I choose C

please correst if I'm wrong again

hahaha U have a point... Yes its a STRONG C..

In California, a lack of genetic variation in the Argentine ant has allowed the species
to spread widely; due to their being so genetically similar to one another, the ants
consider all their fellows to be a close relative and thus do not engage in the kind of
fierce intercolony struggles that limits the spread of this species in its native
Argentina.



Here many of the posters have forgotten to look for the "subject" in the second clause..



subject : should be singular ( becox the pronoun referents ("this & its " are singular and they have to refer a singular subject))

In California, a lack of genetic variation in the Argentine ant has allowed the species
to spread widely; Because it is so genetically similar, the ant considers all its fellows to be
close relatives and thus does not engage in the kind of fierce intercolony
struggles that limits the spread of this species in its native
Argentina.

This i sa good SC!!

[harshavardhanc]

How can you guys even dissect the problem w/out the underlying???

Soo annoying! It literally takes 5 secs to underline...

echo your comments!!

the "giant GMAT giveaway" surely has increased the quantity of posts, but has degraded the quality of them.

Moreover, mods/instructors have repeatedly asked to cite the source, but the new "GMAT destroyers" don't even care about it.

[gmatmachoman]

How can you guys even dissect the problem w/out the underlying???

Soo annoying! It literally takes 5 secs to underline...

echo your comments!!

the "giant GMAT giveaway" surely has increased the quantity of posts, but has degraded the quality of them.

Moreover, mods/instructors have repeatedly asked to cite the source, but the new "GMAT destroyers" don't even care about it.

Harsh..I am not new GMAT destroyer BTW dude,

I am a loyal/legible/strict follower of BTG rules..

hahaha!!

BTW plz share ur view on the above SC query..its interesting when many people have given a wrong shot!!

[komal]

Harsh..I am not new GMAT destroyer BTW dude,

I am a loyal/legible/strict follower of BTG rules..

hahaha!!

BTW plz share ur view on the above SC query..its interesting when many people have given a wrong shot!!

lol yeh gmatmachoman is a strict follower of BTG Rules. He even made me go through the 'BTG Rules Bible' couple a times lol just kidding