Exams › SSC CGL (Prelims) › General

Choose the correct direct speech: The researcher stated that, in the absence of sufficient evidence, the conclusions drawn from the experiment were unreliable.

1. The researcher stated, "In the absence of sufficient evidence, the conclusions drawn from the experiment are unreliable."
2. The researcher stated, "If there was no sufficient evidence, the conclusions drawn from the experiment had been unreliable."
3. The researcher stated, "Without sufficient evidence, the conclusions drawn from the experiment would have been unreliable."
4. The researcher stated, "The conclusions drawn from the experiment must have been unreliable since there was no sufficient evidence."

Correct answer: The researcher stated, "In the absence of sufficient evidence, the conclusions drawn from the experiment are unreliable."

Solution

The indirect speech reports a general statement about the unreliability of conclusions without sufficient evidence. In direct speech, this is best expressed as a present-tense general statement within quotation marks.

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