A sentence is provided in indirect speech. From the four given options, choose the one that most accurately conveys the sentence in its corresponding direct speech. She asked whether, in view of the delays caused by external vendors, the timeline for delivery could be reconsidered.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
Correct Answer
“Could the delivery timeline be reconsidered because of the delays by external vendors?” she asked.
Explanation
When converting an interrogative sentence from indirect speech back to direct speech, we reverse the standard backshifting rules:
Modal Verb Shift: The modal verb "could" in the indirect speech ("could be reconsidered") translates back to a formal question format starting with "Could...?" in direct speech to maintain the exact grammatical construction.
Vocabulary Matching: Option 1 preserves the specific terminology used in the original question prompt, including "delivery timeline", "reconsidered", and "external vendors".
Other options unnecessarily change the core vocabulary to words like "schedule," "deadline," or "extended," making Option 1 the most accurate and precise direct match.
Key Points
Structure: The word "whether" in indirect speech signals that the direct speech must be a Yes/No question.
Exact Fit: Option 1 maintains the identical formal passive construction ("be reconsidered") found in the prompt.