Choose the correct word to fill in the blank. The students were told that the excursion _______ cancelled owing to the heavy rain.
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Worked Solution
Step 1: Identify the reporting clause tense.
'Were told' is simple past — this is reported speech.
Step 2: Apply the reported-speech tense shift rule.
Direct: "The excursion has been cancelled."
Reported (past): → the excursion HAD BEEN cancelled (present perfect → past perfect).
Step 3: Confirm no other option fits.
'Was' (simple past) does not fully capture the prior completion; 'has been' does not shift back; 'is' does not shift at all.
Answer: had been
Correct answer: had been
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