Fill in the blank with the most appropriate option:
By the time the rescue team arrived, the villagers ______ to higher ground.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
Correct Answer
had fled
Explanation
This sentence follows the rule of past time clauses introduced by "by the time." When two actions happened in the past, the action that was completed before a specific past reference point is expressed in the Past Perfect tense ($had + \text{V}_3$). Here, the villagers leaving for higher ground happened first, and then the rescue team arrived (Simple Past). Therefore, "had fled" is the grammatically correct choice.
Key Points
Grammar Rule: By the time + Simple Past, Past Perfect.
First Action (Past Perfect): Villagers had fled to higher ground.
Second Action (Simple Past): Rescue team arrived.