• a basket of fruit

Hi!

I read the following question in a TOEIC book:

“Read the e-mail and choose the one word or phrase that best completes each sentence.

To: George

From: Margaret

Subject: Dinner

George,

Don’t forget we are going to Rita’s house for dinner tonight. I want to give her something special, so I thought I would get her a basket of ______(#1). Do you think that’s a good idea? You know Rita better than I do. In fact, I’ve only met her a few times. She might prefer candy or something else.

I also want to bring something for the dinner. I plan to stop Brown’s Grocery on my way home from work. The desserts there are delicious. Strawberry pie is my favorite, so I hope everyone lies that flavor. I’ll get some ice cream, too. The wine costs very little there, so I might get some of that, too. Even if we don’t drink any, Rita will have it for another time.

…

See you tonight.

Margaret.

#1.

(A) gift

(B) fruit

(C) flowers

(D) cookies

Answer: B (Fruit is a non-count noun. Choices (A), (C), and (D) are count nouns and would have to be plural in order to make sense in this sentence.” ((Barron’s TOEIC, 5the Edition, p. 163))

I can’t understand why C and D are NOT correct. I believe there are some typos in the above choices. Choice (C) should have been ‘flower’ and choice (D) should have been ‘cookie’, considering the explanation “Choices (A), (C), and (D) are count nouns and would have to be plural in order to make sense in this sentence.” in the book. If the choices are revised as the following, then, clearly, B is the ONLY correct answer:

#1’.

(A) gift

(B) fruit

(C) flower

(D) cookie

What do you think? Do you agree with me?

Thanks in advance.