a variety/the variety

【问】 Magazines provide the wide variety of information and entertainment. (TOEFL，84.11)

请分析试题中的错误。

【答】 variety有两个基本含义：1.种类，品种;2.种种，多样化。当variety作“种种”、“许多”解时，必须带不定冠词“a”，含有形容词定语时，亦是如此：

1. They are made in a variety of sizes. (DEC)

它们制成各种不同的尺寸。

2. His failure was due to a variety of reasons. (DEC)

他的失败是种种原因造成的。

3. The college library had a wide variety of books. (EED)

学院图书馆有各式各样的图书。