Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank.
A wildlife biologist described a recent observation: “The river otters are constructing new dens near the northern reed beds.” Which of the following best completes the sentence in reported speech for a field report? The biologist stated that _______.
Answer और ExplanationAnswer and explanation
Answer: (B) the river otters were constructing new dens near the northern reed beds
Concept (Reported Speech: Present Continuous से Past Continuous): Reporting verb 'stated' Past Tense (भूत काल) में है, इसलिए Reported Speech का Present Continuous ('are constructing') बदलकर Past Continuous ('were constructing') हो जाता है।
✓ Correct sentence: The biologist stated that the river otters were constructing new dens near the northern reed beds.
विकल्प (a) में Present Perfect और विकल्प (c) में Simple Past है, जो अर्थ बदल देते हैं। विकल्प (d) में Tense बदला ही नहीं गया है।
Exam trap: Present Perfect या Simple Past वाले विकल्प ही वह जाल हैं, क्योंकि वे अर्थ बदल देते हैं।
Concept (Reported Speech: Present Continuous to Past Continuous): with the reporting verb 'stated' in the past tense, the present continuous ('are constructing') moves back to the past continuous ('were constructing').
✓ Correct sentence: The biologist stated that the river otters were constructing new dens near the northern reed beds.
Option (a) has the present perfect and option (c) the simple past, both of which change the meaning. Option (d) keeps the tense unchanged.
Exam trap: the present perfect or simple past options are the trap, because they change the meaning.
Source: DSSSB ASO 2026 · 11 Oct 2026 · Shift II। Solution: Prashant Sir, Ramban।Source: DSSSB ASO 2026 · 11 Oct 2026 · Shift II. Solution by Prashant Sir, from Ramban.