Multiple choice

Directions: Look at the underlined part of the sentence. Below the sentence are given three possible substitutions for the underlined part. If one of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate it as your answer. If none of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate (4) as your answer.

The tremors from India's nuclear explosions barely subsided before the finger-pointing in Washington began.

  1. had barely subsided

  2. hadn't barely subsided

  3. was barely subsided

  4. No improvement

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Case of past perfect tense. Whenever two incidents occur in the past (one after the other), we use had with the former one in time. Word 'before' is the clue here. Thus, option 1.