16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsHardParallel nouns after 'both'

Standard English Conventions practice question

The festival celebrates both the region's music and ____.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

  1. A. its cookingCorrect
  2. B. cooks
  3. C. to cook
  4. D. it cooks

Answer: A. its cooking

'Both X and Y' needs parallel nouns: music and cooking.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. cooks
'Cooks' is people, not a matching noun for music.
C. to cook
An infinitive breaks the parallel.
D. it cooks
A clause breaks the parallel.

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