The phrase 'by virtue of' in the passage is closest in meaning to A. in spite of B. becaus

The phrase 'by virtue of' in the passage is closest in meaning to A. in spite of B. because of C. unconcerned about D. with attention to

The phrase "by virtue of" primarily expresses a causal relationship, emphasizing that something happens due to specific qualities, conditions, or advantages. While it has subtle differences from "because of" (such as highlighting inherent attributes), they are highly similar in core meaning, especially in basic usage scenarios citation:2.

According to multiple reference sources, "by virtue of" is consistently defined as "because of" or "due to" citation:1citation:3citation:5citation:8. For example, "She got the job by virtue of her greater experience" directly conveys the meaning of obtaining the job "because of" rich experience citation:5. In exam contexts like postgraduate English cloze tests, it is explicitly categorized as a fixed phrase indicating cause, alongside "because of" citation:6.

Although some sources note that "by virtue of" more strongly emphasizes positive qualities or qualifications compared to the neutral "because of" citation:2, this distinction does not affect the answer choice in basic vocabulary questions. The question asks for the closest meaning, and "because of" (option B) is the most direct and accurate equivalent.

Answer: B

This choice aligns with the fundamental definition of "by virtue of" as a causal prepositional phrase, making it the optimal selection among the given options.