A historian presents the following statement in a conference summary: "The archaeologist claims, 'We may discover older artifacts in this region,' but the official report asserts, 'No evidence of earlier settlements exists.'" Which of the following sentences accurately conveys the historian's summary using indirect speech?
Answer और ExplanationAnswer and explanation
Answer: (D) The historian stated that the archaeologist claimed they might discover older artifacts in that region, while the official report asserted that no evidence of earlier settlements existed.
Concept (Reported Speech: Multiple Speakers): Reporting verb 'stated' Past में होने पर Indirect Speech में Present Tense (वर्तमान काल) एक कदम पीछे, अर्थात Past में, चला जाता है। 'We may discover' में 'may' बदलकर 'might' होता है, और 'No evidence ... exists' बदलकर 'no evidence ... existed' होता है। 'We' का संबंध archaeologist से है, इसलिए 'they' आता है; दूर के संदर्भ में 'this region' 'that region' बनता है।
विकल्प (a) में 'exists' Present में ही रह गया है, इसलिए backshift अधूरा है। विकल्प (b) में दोनों कथन गलत व्यक्तियों को दे दिए गए हैं। विकल्प (c) Direct Speech में है।
Exam trap: Present Tense 'exists' को न बदलना ही वह जाल है।
Concept (Reported Speech: Multiple Speakers): with the reporting verb 'stated' in the past, the present tense in indirect speech moves back one step to the past. 'We may discover' becomes 'might', and 'No evidence ... exists' becomes 'no evidence ... existed'. 'We' refers to the archaeologist, so 'they' is used, and 'this region' becomes 'that region' in a distant reference.
Option (a) keeps 'exists' in the present, so the backshift is incomplete. Option (b) gives both statements to the wrong speakers. Option (c) is in direct speech.
Exam trap: not changing the present tense 'exists' is the trap.
Source: DSSSB ASO 2026 · 7 Oct 2026 · Shift III। Solution: Prashant Sir, Ramban।Source: DSSSB ASO 2026 · 7 Oct 2026 · Shift III. Solution by Prashant Sir, from Ramban.