A/B/C - 'its/it' is singular and the brewed leaves - plural - SV error
A/B - possibilities - wrong idiom
D - possible preventing - awkward

IMO E.

sam2304 wrote:A/B/C - 'its/it' is singular and the brewed leaves - plural - SV error
A/B - possibilities - wrong idiom
D - possible preventing - awkward

IMO E.

is its referring to brewed leaves? or tea?

sam2304 wrote:A/B/C - 'its/it' is singular and the brewed leaves - plural - SV error
A/B - possibilities - wrong idiom
D - possible preventing - awkward

IMO E.

Just to add to what Sam mentioned:

preventing AND inhibiting implies both actions done at the same time. Therefore, we need OR (not AND).

Normally PRONOUN cannot refer to NOUN WITHIN A PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE (therefore it cannot refer to TEA);

patanjali.purpose wrote: Normally PRONOUN cannot refer to NOUN WITHIN A PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE (therefore it cannot refer to TEA);

This is possible on a condition that the pronoun also comes in a prepositional phrase. I was believing the same until I ran on this post.

https://www.manhattangmat.com/forums/pro ... t7725.html

Look for the example given by the poster and Ron's reply to it.

@fangtray - it/its don't have an any antecedent.

sam2304 wrote:

patanjali.purpose wrote: Normally PRONOUN cannot refer to NOUN WITHIN A PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE (therefore it cannot refer to TEA);

This is possible on a condition that the pronoun also comes in a prepositional phrase. I was believing the same until I ran on this post.

https://www.manhattangmat.com/forums/pro ... t7725.html

Look for the example given by the poster and Ron's reply to it.

@fangtray - it/its don't have an any antecedent.

are those choices wrong because it/its doesn't have an antecedent? or is it the plural singular error..

whats the wrong idiom? the "possibilities" part or the "to/for" that follows possibilities? why is possibilties the plural of possibility...incorrect?

A, B and C use singular noun its, it to refer to plural subject the brewed leaves -> wrong
D is wrong because the possible preventing and inhibiting of is a noun phrase and it should be supported by parallel structure in the following clause, but it won't
E is good because the possibly preventing or inhibiting is the Gerund, parallel with play a role in the following clause
Therefore, E is the answer

The health benefits of tea have been the subject of much research; in addition to its possibilities for preventing and inhibiting some forms of cancer, the brewed leaves of Camellia sinensis may also play a role in reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke.

a. in addition to its possibilities for preventing and inhibiting
b. in addition to its possibilities to prevent or inhibit
c. besides the possibility that it prevents and inhibits
d. besides the possible preventing and inhibiting of
e. besides possibly preventing or inhibiting


For (A), (B), and (C) the 'it' is problematic. The dependent clause 'in addition to ...' should be modifying brewed leaves. As a result, we do not want the singular pronoun 'it.'

Between (D) and (E), the 'of' after inhibiting in (D) refers to 'preventing' and 'inhibiting'. 'Preventing of' is unidiomatic. 'Prevention and inhibiting of' would have worked better.

(E) provides a succinct wording and use the participles 'preventing' and 'inhibiting' which clearly modify the subject 'brewed leaves.'

Hope that helps!

fangtray wrote: are those choices wrong because it/its doesn't have an antecedent? or is it the plural singular error..

If we have the right pronoun to replace the actual noun that should be there, then its fine. Here it should be 'in addition to the brewed leaves' possibility' - 'brewed leaves' is plural and we have a singular 'its' - wrong.

whats the wrong idiom? the "possibilities" part or the "to/for" that follows possibilities? why is possibilties the plural of possibility...incorrect?

Possibility of/possibility that/Possibilities of/ possibilities that - are all right idioms.