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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 indirect speech: She said, "Why are you laughing?"

1. She asked why he was laughing.
2. She said why are you laughing.
3. She told why you laughed.
4. She asked why he laughed.

Correct answer: She asked why he was laughing.

Solution

The direct question is converted into reported speech by changing the reporting verb to 'asked' and removing the question form. The present continuous 'are laughing' becomes past continuous 'was laughing' in indirect speech.

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