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A sentence is provided in direct speech. From the four given options, choose the one that most accurately conveys the sentence in its corresponding indirect speech: He said, "Water boils at one hundred degrees Celsius."

1. He said that water boiled at one hundred degrees Celsius.
2. He said that water boils at one hundred degrees Celsius.
3. He said that water had boiled at one hundred degrees Celsius.
4. He said that water has boiled at one hundred degrees Celsius.

Correct answer: He said that water boils at one hundred degrees Celsius.

Solution

The sentence states a scientific fact, which is a universal truth. Universal truths remain in the present tense even in indirect speech, so "boils" is retained.

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