Expecting a baby

[Guest]

Test No. errors/inter-14 "Great expections when you are so carried away", question 2

I was telephoned late last night just before I went to bed and told Mary is awaiting a baby.

(a) was
(b) went
(c) awaiting

Test No. errors/inter-14 "Great expections when you are so carried away", answer 2

I was telephoned late last night just before I went to bed and told Mary is expecting a baby.

Correct entry: expecting
The error was: (c) awaiting

You have found the error but your entry is incorrect.
I was telephoned late last night just before I went to bed and told Mary is awaiting a baby.
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"expecting" just make a better sense, doesn't it? Why do we have to change it? Thank you a lot!

[Mister Micawber]

The idiom is expecting a baby-- meaning that she is pregnant. Late night telephone calls are not made in order to inform others that one is merely waiting for another person to bring a baby to one's house ('awaiting a baby').
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Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
ESL cafe: Interview with Mister Micawber