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Reported Speech Practice

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Reported Speech Practice

A student journalist is covering a city’s new heat-safety plan. Read the short interview transcript, then report statements and questions accurately. Check tense, pronouns, time and place expressions, and whether the original speaker’s meaning is preserved.

Interview transcript

At a community briefing on Tuesday, reporter Carlos spoke with emergency planner Alex Rivera. Carlos: “What will the city do during the heat wave?” Rivera: “We are opening three cooling centers today. They will stay open until 9 p.m.” Carlos: “Why did the city choose these locations?” Rivera: “We selected them because residents asked for places near public transit.” Carlos: “Have you sent the schedule to neighborhood groups?” Rivera: “I sent it yesterday, and I will post an updated version tomorrow.” Carlos: “Can residents bring their pets?” Rivera: “They can bring small pets in carriers, but they must keep them with them.”

A. Choose and explain

Select the best reported version. Then briefly identify one change that makes it fit the reporting context.

1.Carlos asked Rivera, “What will the city do during the heat wave?” Which report correctly changes the direct question into an indirect question?

Carlos asked Rivera what would the city do during the heat wave.
Carlos asked Rivera what the city would do during the heat wave.
Carlos asked Rivera what the city will do during the heat wave.

2.Rivera said, “We are opening three cooling centers today.” Choose the most accurate report for a story published the next day.

Rivera said that they were opening three cooling centers that day.
Rivera said that we are opening three cooling centers today.
Rivera said that they had opened three cooling centers the next day.

3.Rivera said, “I sent it yesterday, and I will post an updated version tomorrow.” Write this as one reported sentence, assuming Carlos reports it the next day.

B. Report the briefing

Rewrite each line as reported speech. Keep the original meaning and use a reporting verb that fits the sentence.

4.Rivera said, “We selected them because residents asked for places near public transit.” Report Rivera’s explanation. Assume the report is written the next day.

5.Carlos asked Rivera, “Have you sent the schedule to neighborhood groups?” Report Carlos’s question using correct indirect-question word order.

6.Rivera said, “They can bring small pets in carriers, but they must keep them with them.” Report this rule. Use Rivera as the speaker and residents as the people being discussed.

7.A day later, Rivera tells Carlos, “The centers are still open, and I will send you the final schedule tonight.” Report Rivera’s words later that evening, when Carlos is writing the story. Use Carlos as the reporter and Rivera as the speaker.

C. Edit the report

Each sentence below contains a reporting-speech error. Rewrite it correctly and explain the problem briefly.

8.Error to edit: Carlos asked Rivera where were the cooling centers. Rewrite the sentence correctly and name the word-order error.

9.Error to edit: Rivera said that they will post the updated schedule tomorrow. Assume this report is written the next day after Rivera made the statement. Rewrite it with appropriate backshift and time reference.

10.Editing challenge: A reporter wrote, “Rivera said that she had sent the schedule tomorrow.” Explain why the time expression does not fit with had sent, then write a corrected report of Rivera’s original statement: “I sent the schedule yesterday.” Assume the reporter writes the next day.