A controversial SC -->Shaq, Bob800, Erin, other SC professionals.<-- please help

[acutetrader]

Since February, the Federal Reserve has raised its short-term interest rate target five times, and because of the economy’s continued strength, analysts have been predicting for weeks that the target will be raised again in November.



A. because of the economy’s continued strength, analysts have been predicting for weeks that the target will

B. with the economy’s strength continuing, analysts predicted for weeks that the target

C. because the economy continues strong, analysts predicted for weeks that the target would

D. due to the economy’s continued strength, analysts have been predicting for weeks that the target

E. due to the fact of the economy’s continued strength, analysts predicted for weeks that the target will


It's from old GMAT paper test, so no Official Answer.

1. [highly controversial]
Somebody said "due to" is appropriate here by the reason that "due to" acts as Adjective ,
but some said "due to" = "caused by" so it can't be used here.

2. [moderate]
Some said "the target will" in A/E is too strong for a prediction,
some said "the target would" is not OK, we must use "the target will" for prediction.

The contention is between A/D

Please... all SC professionals, clarify these.

Thank you very much

[sumeet_rana]

Agreed its between A and D. I would choose A

I see nothing wrong with A and I do go by "due to" = "caused by" . replacing caused by actually twists the sentence.

"Since February, the Federal Reserve has raised its short-term interest rate target five times, and due to the economy’s continued strength, analysts have been predicting for weeks that the target be raised again in November"

Moreover please see the bold " predicting" and "be raised" seems to be incorrect. target be raised is more like a recommendation than a prediction. If they had used target will be raised.. D stands a better chance..
Therefore I belive A is best.

[thinker]

I agree with sumeet.

[chimni]

easy one .
drop all due to
drop continuing strength,continues strong

A

[arangarajan]

agree with A for the above reasons

[800Bob]

Correct response is A.

"Due to" is an adjective and should be used only to mean "caused by."

UNACCEPTABLE: "Due to bad weather, the flight has been delayed." (The flgiht was not caused by bad weather.)
CORRECT: "The delay is due to bad weather."

In choice D ("due to the economy’s continued strength, analysts have..."), if "due to" is an adjective, then it is modifying "analysts." That makes no sense: the analysts were not caused by the economy's unexpected strength.

"Predict" that something "will" happen is idiomatic and logical.

[karmaholic]

I this wrong?

Due to bad weather, there is a delay in the schedule.

This has nothing to do with the question. I want to know if it is correct or not and why?

I agree to the Official Answer and to 800bob as well!

[geeky]

I this wrong?

Due to bad weather, there is a delay in the schedule.

This has nothing to do with the question. I want to know if it is correct or not and why?

I agree to the Official Answer and to 800bob as well!

Due to bad weather, there is a delay in the schedule.

can be reduced to

" <caused by> bad weather, there is a delay in the schedule "

Sounds like misplaced modifier to me ---

something like
" <caused by> bad weather, thunderstorms were rampant"
is acceptable

The way i see it --what you wrote is NOT CORRECT

What do magicians say ?

[800Bob]

I this wrong?

Due to bad weather, there is a delay in the schedule.

This has nothing to do with the question. I want to know if it is correct or not and why?

I agree to the Official Answer and to 800bob as well!

Strictly speaking, it's wrong.

[Mt.Rainer]

I picked "A".

A. because of the economy’s continued strength, analysts have been predicting for weeks that the target will
--No grammatical errors. "will" is forceful in predicting the short term interest rate target
B. with the economy’s strength continuing, analysts predicted for weeks that the target
---appears awkward(strength continuing)

C. because the economy continues strong, analysts predicted for weeks that the target would
---appears awkward(continues strong)

D. due to the economy’s continued strength, analysts have been predicting for weeks that the target
---will go with the meaning of "due to" for "caused by"

E. due to the fact of the economy’s continued strength, analysts predicted for weeks that the target will
---will go with the meaning of "due to" for "caused by"