<p>I cannot figure out this writing question:</p>
<p>Mediators were standing by, prepared to intervene in the labor dispute even though both sides had refused earlier offers for assistance. </p>
<p>A. to intervere in
B. even though
C. had refused
D. for
E. No error</p>
<p>I picked E, but the answer is D. Why is it d? I don't understand. Help would be appreciated</p>
<p>thanks</p>
<p>i think its D. for, just doesnt seem right.</p>
<p>yea think about it ... had refused earlier offers for assistance - doesn't sound correct.</p>
<p>Should it be "earlier offers of assistance"?</p>
<p>yea it should be of assistance
its a standard idiom</p>
<p>^thats what i was thinking</p>
<p>The whole thing is very picky. If assistance is what the offer is, it's an offer of assistance. But if someone asks for that offer, it's an offer of assistance for you. So it's like, "Here's an offer of $2,500 for National Merit scholars."</p>
<p>It's choice D. It should be "offers of."</p>
<p>Yeah, Godot nailed id.</p>