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Q

Medium 1 Mark

English Tenses

Which sentence correctly avoids backshifting for a universal truth?

A The teacher said that the earth revolved around the sun.

B The teacher said that the earth revolves around the sun.

C The teacher said that the earth is revolving around the sun.

D The teacher said that the earth had revolved around the sun.

Universal truths and scientific facts do not backshift in reported speech. 'Revolves' remains in the present tense.

Reference: English Grammar Guide , Page 13

Scientific facts and universal truths stay in simple present — even in indirect speech.