Question

Mother is ________ supper and the rest of the family are sitting at the table ________ it．

1. A.
   preparing; prepared
2. B.
   preparing; prepared for
3. C.
   preparing for; preparing
4. D.
   prepared for; preparing for

Answer 1

C
prepare为及物动词，意为“准备”，prepare sth．意为“准备某事”。另外，prepare还可用作不及物动词，prepare for sth．意为“为……作准备”；如：
When I got home, mother was preparing supper．
当我到家时，母亲正在做晚饭。
People are busy preparing for the new year．
人们正在忙着为新年作准备。
短语be prepared for 意为“为……作好准备”，意思同be ready for，强调一种状态。如：
We are well prepared for the exam now．
现在我们已为考试作好了充分的准备。