Fill in the Blanks

'A short time ago' indicates a completed past action, so simple past 'left' is correct. Options A and B use perfect tenses which require additional time context. Option D uses conditional 'would leave' which doesn't fit the past time marker.

This is a conditional sentence about an unreal present situation. 'If I had a pen' (which I don't) requires 'would' in the result clause. 'Would give' shows what would happen if the condition were true. Options A and C don't fit conditional structure.

Past perfect tense shows an action completed before another past action. 'Had seen' indicates that seeing all the pictures happened before 'she said.' The sequence of tenses requires past perfect for the earlier action.

In reported speech about future in the past, 'will' changes to 'would.' The original thought was 'it will rain,' which becomes 'it would rain' when reported. 'Would' is the past form of 'will' in reported speech.

This is a hypothetical conditional sentence about the present. For unreal or impossible conditions in the present, we use 'were' instead of 'was' for all subjects, including 'I.' 'If I were you' is the correct subjunctive form.

The sentence uses 'for five years' indicating a duration continuing to the present. Present perfect tense 'has been' is used for actions that started in the past and continue to the present. 'Had been' would require a past time reference, and 'would have' is conditional.

This is the correct option. To 'gave him a hard time' implies to make someone feel bad for a mistake. The teacher gave him a hard time for not showing up at the extra classes for the weak students of the class.

This is the correct option. To 'throw in the towel' implies to quit or to surrender. He is a hard worker. He is not going to throw in the towel that easily.

This is the correct option. To 'stay back' implies to keep distance from something that is harmful. Stay back from the highway. It is dangerous as so much traffic pass through it at high speed!

This is the correct option. To 'gets under my skin' here implies to bother or irritate me. His continuous pestering for money really gets under my skin.

This is the correct option. To 'call off the dogs' implies to stop criticizing someone over something. The opposition should call off the dogs and give some time to the new Chief Minister to act.

This is the correct option. To 'have the edge on' someone implies to be slightly better than something else. The new Mercedes Benz has the edge on other similar models - its larger and quicker!

This is the correct option. 'On the double' implies very fast or twice as fast. The word was sent out that the King wanted to see his defence minister on the double.

This is the correct option. To 'eat the heart out' implies to grieve or to be sorrowful. He has been eating the heart out over his job ever since he was given the pink slip!

This is the correct option. 'Out of proportion' implies being of an exaggerated size as compared to the surroundings. This big portrait looks way out of proportion on this small wall.