Find the part of the sentence that contains an error:
That none of the representatives found the proposition feasible (1)/ is less surprising than the fact (2)/ that neither the chairperson nor the legal counsel (3)/ were briefed beforehand (4).
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Explanation
The correct answer is option 4 i.e. (4)
Error concept: Verb agreement with the nearest subject.
What is wrong: The verb were is plural, but the subject closest to it — legal counsel — is singular.
Grammatical concept: When two subjects are joined by neither...nor, the verb agrees with the subject nearer to it.
Incorrectness of the concept in context: Since legal counsel is singular, the plural verb were is incorrect.
How to correct: Change were to was to agree with the singular subject.
Correct phrase / correction: was briefed beforehand
Final sentence: That none of the representatives found the proposition feasible is less surprising than the fact that neither the chairperson nor the legal counsel was briefed beforehand.
Hence, the chosen option is correct.