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Reported Speech ( Direct and Indirect Speech) Second Term Exam Practice Questions

Reported Speech Mastery

The Dabbawalas

Direct Speech
Reporter “How many dabbawalas work on the Western Railway?”
President “About 3,500 dabbawalas work there now.”
  • The reporter asked how many dabbawalas worked on the Western Railway.
  • The President replied that about 3,500 dabbawalas worked there then.
Direct Speech
Customer “Do you support fast food outlets?”
Dabbawala “You can’t live on fast food.”
  • The customer asked if they supported fast food outlets.
  • The dabbawala replied that one could not live on fast food.
Direct Speech
Interviewer “What time do you pick up the food in the morning?”
Member “The earliest we pick it up is at 8:00 a.m.”
  • The interviewer asked what time they picked up the food in the morning.
  • The member replied that the earliest they picked it up was at 8:00 a.m.
Direct Speech
Visitor “What happens if a customer’s tiffin is not ready on time?”
President “We give them one more chance and then remove them from the list.”
  • The visitor asked what happened if a customer’s tiffin was not ready on time.
  • The President replied that they gave the customer one more chance and then removed them from the list.
Direct Speech
Executive “Have you ever missed my tiffin in ten years?”
Dabbawala “We have never missed your delivery.”
  • The executive asked whether they had ever missed his tiffin in ten years.
  • The dabbawala replied that they had never missed his delivery.

Waiting for Rain

Direct Speech
Mother “Is it raining there?”
Author “No, it isn’t raining here either.”
  • The mother asked if it was raining there.
  • The author replied that it was not raining there either.
Direct Speech
Author “Why are the skies so grey today?”
Mother “They are grey, but we had only a minor spell of rain.”
  • The author asked why the skies were so grey that day.
  • The mother replied that they were grey but they had only had a minor spell of rain.
Direct Speech
Villager “Will we have to pay for water in the future?”
Author “If we cut down more trees, we may have to pay for water.”
  • The villager asked whether they would have to pay for water in the future.
  • The author replied that if they cut down more trees, they might have to pay for water.
Direct Speech
Uncle “Do you remember how heavy the monsoon once was?”
Author “Yes, it made everything damp and clammy.”
  • The uncle asked if she remembered how heavy the monsoon once was.
  • The author replied that it had made everything damp and clammy.
Direct Speech
Mother “Has the monsoon reached Bangalore?”
Author “No, the wind is pushing the monsoon clouds away.”
  • The mother asked if the monsoon had reached Bangalore.
  • The author replied that the wind was pushing the monsoon clouds away.

Bethany Hamilton

Direct Speech
Doctor “You have lost your arm, Bethany.”
Doctor “Now the focus is on saving your life.”
  • The doctor said to Bethany that she had lost her arm.
  • He added that the focus was now on saving her life.
Direct Speech
Bethany “Will I ever surf again?”
Mother “You can do whatever you put your mind to.”
  • Bethany asked if she would ever surf again.
  • The mother replied that she could do whatever she put her mind to.
Direct Speech
Reporter “Why did you decide to give interviews?”
Bethany “I want my story to help others.”
  • The reporter asked why she had decided to give interviews.
  • Bethany replied that she wanted her story to help others.
Direct Speech
Father “Do you still want to be a surf photographer?”
Bethany “I have started thinking about surfing again.”
  • The father asked whether she still wanted to be a surf photographer.
  • Bethany replied that she had started thinking about surfing again.
Direct Speech
Friend “Do you know you inspire many people?”
Bethany “I am thankful if my story gives them hope.”
  • The friend asked if she knew that she inspired many people.
  • Bethany replied that she was thankful if her story gave them hope.

Neerja Bhanot

Direct Speech
President “We confer the Ashoka Chakra on Neerja Bhanot.”
Announcer “Her mother will receive the award.”
  • The President announced that they conferred the Ashoka Chakra on Neerja Bhanot.
  • The announcer added that her mother would receive the award.
Direct Speech
Passenger “Why are the hijackers asking for passports?”
Neerja “They are trying to identify American passengers.”
  • A passenger asked why the hijackers were asking for passports.
  • Neerja replied that they were trying to identify American passengers.
Direct Speech
Journalist “How did Neerja save the children?”
Official “She shielded them when the hijackers opened fire.”
  • The journalist asked how Neerja had saved the children.
  • The official replied that she had shielded them when the hijackers opened fire.
Direct Speech
Family Member “Why did you start the Neerja Bhanot Trust?”
Brother “We want to honour women who fight social injustice.”
  • A family member asked why they had started the Neerja Bhanot Trust.
  • The brother replied that they wanted to honour women who fought social injustice.
Direct Speech
Student “What does Neerja’s story teach us?”
Teacher “It teaches us courage and selfless service.”
  • A student asked what Neerja’s story taught them.
  • The teacher replied that it taught them courage and selfless service.