Lina was flipping through the pages of the Saturday newspapers when the following advertisement by a shop selling winter wear caught her attention:

"On Sunday, 5 July 2020, the first 3 customers get to walk away with our Italian designer ladies' trench coat at only S$88.00. Normal price - S$388! Hurry .... Only if you are speedy enough will you get your hands on one at our special offer price this Sunday! (Limited to one piece per customer only.) The 3 pieces of trench coats on offer are displayed in our window - check them out now!"

She asked her husband, Ebby, to be there before the shop opened the next morning, as she fancied owning one of the trench coats for her forthcoming trip to Scotland.

Ebby dutifully went to the shop very early on Sunday, and was the second person in queue for the trench coats that were advertised and displayed. However, the shop owner very politely apologised to Ebby, and said that the trench coats were only offered to female customers, and that he could not buy one at the offer price of S$88.00! Ebby said that his advertisement was not specific about the offer to only ladies, but the shopowner said that it was obviously so, since they were ladies' coats.

Ebby is very upset. So is Lina. They ask you for your opinion on the matter.

(a) What is the nature of the advertisement that was put out by the shop owner?

A. An invitation to treat

B. A gimmick

C. An offer

D. A mere "puff"

(b) When Ebby took his turn as the 2nd person in the queue to buy the trench coat on offer, what was the nature of his act of wanting to pay for the trench coat?

A. An offer

B. An acceptance

C. An invitation to treat

D. None of the above