Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: but also for preparing
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:Error-spotting questions test precision in grammar and style. This sentence checks your understanding of parallelism in correlative constructions, especially “not only … but also …”. Getting the structure right avoids redundancy and maintains balance between the paired parts of a sentence.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
Step-by-Step Solution:
Identify the head structure: “thankful … for preparing [A] not only … but also … [B]”.Segment B repeats “for preparing”, creating “for preparing … but also for preparing …”.Correct parallelism is: “for preparing not only the main report but also the agenda notes and minutes.”Therefore the error lies in the segment “but also for preparing”.Verification / Alternative check:
Rewrite to confirm: “The committee is thankful … for preparing not only the main report but also the agenda notes and minutes.” This reads smoothly and avoids duplication.Why Other Options Are Wrong:
A: Grammatically fine as a subject–complement chunk.B: Correct lead-in to “not only”.D: Correct object phrase.E: Incorrect because an error does exist in C.Common Pitfalls:
Repeating prepositions or verbs in paired structures; forgetting that “not only … but also …” demands parallel grammatical forms.Final Answer:
but also for preparing
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