In the following question, a sentence is given in direct speech. Select the option that best expresses the same sentence in indirect (reported) speech. The candidate said, "I had passed the entrance test but could not present myself for the interview round held last month."

Introduction / Context:
This question examines how to report a complex past situation that already contains a past perfect verb. The sentence talks about success in an exam and failure to attend an interview in the previous month. The learner must preserve the time reference, keep the reason relationship clear, and apply reported speech rules correctly for both verb phrases and the time expression "last month".

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Reporting verb: "said" in the simple past.
• Direct sentence: "I had passed the entrance test but could not present myself for the interview round held last month."
• First person pronoun "I" refers to the candidate, so it will change to "he" in reported speech.
• Verb "had passed" is already in past perfect, and "could not present" is a modal verb phrase showing inability.
• Time expression "last month" must be adjusted for indirect speech.

Concept / Approach:
When the original sentence already uses past perfect, that tense often remains unchanged in reported speech because it already shows an action completed before another past point. Modal verbs like "could" usually remain the same in indirect speech because they already represent a past ability or possibility. The expression "last month" changes to "the month before" when the report is made at a later date. The structure of the sentence remains similar, joined by "but", and quotation marks and comma are removed.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Start with "The candidate said that" to begin the reported clause. Step 2: Change the pronoun "I" to "he" because the candidate is being referred to in the third person. Step 3: Keep "had passed the entrance test" as it is, because past perfect remains appropriate after a past reporting verb. Step 4: Keep "could not present himself" because "could" already expresses past ability, and only the reflexive pronoun changes from "myself" to "himself". Step 5: Change "held last month" to "that was held the month before" to match indirect speech time reference rules. Step 6: Combine all parts to form "The candidate said that he had passed the entrance test but could not present himself for the interview round that was held the month before."

Verification / Alternative check:
Confirm that both events are clearly placed before the time of reporting: passing the test and failing to attend the interview. The conjunction "but" still shows contrast between success in the test and inability to appear for the interview. The phrase "the month before" signals that the interview happened one month before the time of speaking originally, which is now one month before the time of reporting. Grammar, pronouns, and time expression are all consistent with standard reported speech rules.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A uses the awkward phrase "could not be presenting himself", which is not required because the original does not use a continuous form. Option B uses "has passed", which is present perfect and does not match the past reporting verb. Option D repeats the present perfect "has passed" and again misuses "be presenting himself", so it does not follow the appropriate tense and aspect choices.

Common Pitfalls:
One frequent error is to try to backshift past perfect further, which is unnecessary and can lead to unnatural sentences. Another mistake is to forget to adjust reflexive pronouns such as "myself" to "himself" or "herself" when the speaker becomes a third person in reported speech. Time expressions like "last week", "last month", and "last year" also need attention, as exam questions often test exactly these changes. Reading the sentence slowly and checking each element in turn is the best way to avoid mistakes.

Final Answer:
The correct reported sentence is The candidate said that he had passed the entrance test but could not present himself for the interview round that was held the month before.