In the following question, a sentence is given in Direct speech. Out of the four alternatives, select the option that best expresses the same sentence in Indirect (reported) speech: She says, "I keep at an arm's length all those who try to flatter me."

Introduction / Context:
This question involves reporting a present tense general statement from Direct to Indirect speech, with the reporting verb also in the present tense. The Direct sentence is: She says, "I keep at an arm's length all those who try to flatter me." This statement describes her habitual behaviour or policy towards flatterers.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- Reporting verb: says (simple present). - Direct statement: I keep at an arm's length all those who try to flatter me. - The idiom "at an arm's length" means keeping a cautious emotional or social distance. - The pronoun "I" refers to "she"; "me" also refers to "she".

Concept / Approach:
When the reporting verb is in the present tense, such as "says", we usually do not backshift the tense of the reported clause. The simple present "keep" remains "keeps". The first person pronouns "I" and "me" are changed to "she" and "her" respectively in reported form. The idiom "at an arm's length" must be preserved because it conveys a specific figurative meaning of distancing oneself from flatterers.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Keep the reporting verb "says" unchanged because it is in the present tense. Step 2: Introduce the reported clause with "that" (often optional in everyday English but preferred in exam style). Step 3: Change the pronoun "I" to "she" and "me" to "her". Step 4: Maintain the simple present form, changing "keep" to "keeps" to agree with the third person singular subject "she". Step 5: Retain the idiom "at an arm's length" exactly as it is. Step 6: The final reported sentence is: She says that she keeps at an arm's length all those who try to flatter her.

Verification / Alternative check:
To check correctness, convert the Indirect sentence "She says that she keeps at an arm's length all those who try to flatter her" back into Direct speech. From her perspective, it becomes: She says, "I keep at an arm's length all those who try to flatter me." The tense, idiom, and pronoun references are perfectly recovered, confirming option D as correct.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A changes the reporting verb to "said" and the tense to "kept", implying she spoke in the past, which does not match the present reporting verb "says" in the question. Option B uses "exclaims", which implies sudden excitement or strong emotion; the original sentence is more of a calm principle rather than an exclamation. Option C changes the meaning to a future intention "will keep", which is not the same as the present habitual action "keep".

Common Pitfalls:
One common mistake is automatically backshifting tenses whenever students see reported speech, without noticing that the reporting verb may be in the present tense. Another error is altering idioms like "at an arm's length", which should remain intact. Students also sometimes introduce reporting verbs like "exclaims" or "claims" that add emotional colour not found in the original sentence. In exam questions, you should choose the option that preserves meaning and tone as closely as possible.

Final Answer:
She says that she keeps at an arm's length all those who try to flatter her.