Answer:
The most important reason for citing a source when quoting it directly is to give credit to the source (Option A). It is important to acknowledge the original author or creator of a work to avoid plagiarism and to give proper credit where it is due. Citing sources also allows readers to locate and review the original work if they wish to do so. While the other options listed may be secondary benefits of citing sources, giving credit to the source is the primary reason for doing so.