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SSC CPO 2021 PYQ — Question 119

SSC CPO Tier II - 26 July 2021 • English • Q119

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Select the correct direct form of the given sentence.

The teacher asked the students if they could prepare for the debate by the following week.

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Correct answer: C

Explanation

The correct answer is option 3 i.e. The teacher said to the students, “Can you prepare for the debate by next week?”

  • The indirect sentence is a question about the student's ability to prepare for the debate by a certain time. In direct speech, this is expressed as a question.

  • The indirect sentence uses "could," which is changed to "can" in the direct form to reflect the present tense in direct speech.

  • "By the following week" is simplified to "by next week" in the direct speech for clarity and conciseness.

So, the direct form is: "The teacher said to the students, 'Can you prepare for the debate by next week?'"