Question:
A sentence is provided in indirect speech: The chief justice said that equality must be served at any cost.
Option:
- “Equality should be served at any cost,” said the chief justice.
- “Equality must be served at any cost,” the chief justice said.
- “We serve equality at any cost,” said the chief justice.
- “One must serve equality,” the chief justice said.
Correct answer: b)
Explanation:
Changes required:
The given sentence is in indirect speech and we have to convert it to direct speech.
In direct speech, the reporting verb “said that” changes to “said,” followed by the actual words in quotation marks.
The modal verb “must” remains unchanged because it expresses an obligation that is universally true.
Converted sentence:
“Equality must be served at any cost,” the chief justice said.
Hence, the chosen option is correct.