A sentence is provided in indirect speech. From the four given options, choose the one that most accurately conveys the sentence in its corresponding direct speech. He said that he would attend the meeting after the meal.

The correct direct speech is (a) “I will attend the meeting after the meal,” he said. Rules of conversion applied: • Reversal of backshift: would in indirect speech commonly corresponds to will in direct speech when expressing future intention at the time of speaking. • Pronoun change: he → I, as the original speaker refers to himself. • Time expression: after the meal remains unchanged, as it still indicates a future time relative to the original utterance. • Quotation marks correctly enclose the exact spoken words. Example for clarity: Indirect: She said that she would call later. Direct: “I will call later,” she said. Why other options are incorrect: • (b) would in direct speech alters the intended future certainty and is not the standard reversal in exam contexts. • (c) shall is formal and less commonly used; exam-standard conversion from would is will. • (d) can changes the meaning from future intention to ability.