Which preposition best completes the sentence: Albert was forced to retire () poor health?

Which preposition best completes the sentence: Albert was forced to retire () poor health?

• A. Because of
• B. Due to
• C. Owing to
• D. On account of

Answer: (A)

The idea being tested is how to express the cause of an action. When the reason for doing something needs to be stated, because of is the natural choice because it directly links the action to its cause. In this sentence, retirement happened because of poor health, so the phrase that fits best is because of poor health. It keeps the meaning clear and the sentence fluent: Albert was forced to retire because of poor health. The other options are more formal or tend to modify a noun or a state rather than the verb itself. For example, due to, owing to, and on account of often appear in situations like “The retirement was due to poor health,” where the reason is linked to the noun retirement rather than the action of retiring. In everyday, active-verb usage, because of sounds most natural and direct.

The idea being tested is how to express the cause of an action. When the reason for doing something needs to be stated, because of is the natural choice because it directly links the action to its cause. In this sentence, retirement happened because of poor health, so the phrase that fits best is because of poor health. It keeps the meaning clear and the sentence fluent: Albert was forced to retire because of poor health.

The other options are more formal or tend to modify a noun or a state rather than the verb itself. For example, due to, owing to, and on account of often appear in situations like “The retirement was due to poor health,” where the reason is linked to the noun retirement rather than the action of retiring. In everyday, active-verb usage, because of sounds most natural and direct.