Since Vs Because

[mygmat800]

Sorry for posting this here. I have received response to my posts in this section but my posts in "General Verbal" section still remain unanswered. That makes me think that posts in this section have a higher probability of getting answered :)

How is the usage of "Since" different from that of "Because"?

[Guest]

Since indicates relation to time. For example since last friday he hasn't ......
Because - indicates premise. It gives a reason for a certain conclusion.

Don't know if this helped.

[StaceyKoprince]

Sorry guys - we've been getting a lot more questions than usual lately and we're a bit behind. :)

Although lots of people use "since" to mean "because" in common language today, that's not the original / "official" meaning of the word. Since means "from the time that" or "between then and now" or something along those lines - so the guest poster is right that we should use "since" when we're talking about a period of time and "because" when we're talking about cause and effect. Don't use "since" (on the GMAT) to mean "because."

[mohitkant]

Hi Stacey,

I have a query, please refer the GMAT prep question below, I am unable to justify the correct answer based on your comments.

Prospecting for gold during the California gold rush was a relatively easy task, because of erosion, prehistoric glacier movement, and ancient, gold-bearing riverbeds thrust to the surface by volcanic activity put gold literally within reach for anybody with a pan or shovel.

A. because of erosion, prehistoric glacier movement, and ancient, gold-bearing riverbeds thrust to the surface by volcanic activity put gold literally within reach for
B. because of erosion, prehistoric glacier movement, and volcanic activity that thrust ancient, gold-bearing riverbeds to the surface, and putting gold literally within reach of
C. owing to erosion, prehistoric glacier movement, and volcanic activity that had thrust ancient, gold-bearing riverbeds to the surface, and putting gold literally within reach of
D. since erosion, prehistoric glacier movement, and volcanic activity that thrust ancient, gold-bearing riverbeds to the surface, putting gold literally within reach for
E. since erosion, prehistoric glacier movement, and ancient, gold-bearing riverbeds thrust to the surface by volcanic activity put gold literally within reach of

Answer: E

How do we justify the usage of Since in the correct option, should we not use "because" to justify the cause and effect relationship -- Prospecting for gold was an easy task because.... X..

Correct usage here should be "reach of" . Hence this rules out A and D. Usage of owing in C is incorrect. This leaves B and E.

Shouldn't erosion, prehistoric glacier movement, and volcanic activity be parallel? I understand that usage of "and putting" in B is incorrect. But still have my doubts about usage of "Since" in E and the fact that "erosion, prehistoric glacier movement, and ancient, gold-bearing riverbeds thrust" in E are parallel does not make sense.

I know i am missing something obvious here...

[StaceyKoprince]

possibly not - things do change over time on the test, especially for things that are not hard and fast real-world rules.

I'm going to have to ask you to re-post this question though. It's posted in the wrong folder - there's a separate folder for GMATPrep Verbal problems. When you post it, you can include a link to this post so that you can reference the past discussion of since vs. because.