Choose the correct prepositional opener expressing cause “______ a failure of some traffic lights, traffic is moving very slowly.” Select the best phrase to express the reason.

Given data

• We need a cause phrase before a noun phrase (“a failure of some traffic lights”).

Concept/Approach
Owing to (or Due to) + noun phrase expresses reason: “Owing to a failure…, traffic is moving slowly.”

Option analysis
Owing to — correct causal preposition before a noun phrase.Despite — concessive, not causal.Although — requires a clause, not a noun phrase.Because — takes a clause (“because some lights failed”), not a bare noun phrase.

Final Answer
Owing to