Convert the following direct speech into indirect speech: Sara answered, The photographs are under the drawer.

Introduction / Context:
This question tests reported speech, also called indirect speech. Converting direct speech to indirect speech requires changes in pronouns, tenses, and word order while preserving the original meaning. The direct speech sentence is a simple statement in the present tense, embedded in a reporting clause that is in the past tense. The learner must select the option that correctly applies tense backshift and conjunction usage in standard English grammar.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Direct speech: Sara answered, The photographs are under the drawer.
• Reporting verb: answered (simple past).
• Reported clause tense: are (simple present).
• The reported statement is a fact about the location of the photographs at that time.
• We must choose the most accurate and grammatically correct indirect speech version.

Concept / Approach:
When the reporting verb is in the past tense, the verb in the reported clause is usually shifted back one step in time, unless it describes a universal truth. Here, are should generally change to were. Also, that is used as a conjunction to introduce the reported clause. The basic pattern is Sara answered that plus the reported statement with adjusted tense. The correct indirect speech sentence is Sara answered that the photographs were under the drawer. This shows backshift from are to were and uses that appropriately, while maintaining the original meaning.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the reporting clause, Sara answered, and the quoted statement, The photographs are under the drawer. Step 2: Remove the quotation marks and introduce the conjunction that after the reporting verb. Step 3: Convert are in the reported clause to were, because the reporting verb answered is in the past tense. Step 4: Maintain the rest of the sentence structure: the photographs were under the drawer. Step 5: Combine to form Sara answered that the photographs were under the drawer. Step 6: Compare this with the given options and confirm it matches option d.

Verification / Alternative check:
Now examine the other options. Option a, Sara answered that the photographs are under the drawer, does not backshift the tense and is less acceptable in formal reported speech. Option b, Sara answered that that the photographs are under the drawer, contains a repetition of that and is grammatically incorrect. Option c, Sara answered that the photographs had been under the drawer, uses past perfect had been, which implies that the photographs were no longer there at the time of speaking. That changes the meaning and is not required. Therefore, the only fully correct and precise version is option d.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Sara answered that the photographs are under the drawer: Fails to change are to were despite the past reporting verb, making it less standard in reported speech.

that that the photographs are under the drawer: Contains double that, which is a clear grammatical error.

Sara answered that the photographs had been under the drawer: Suggests that the photographs were there earlier but not necessarily at the time of speaking, which alters the sense.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes forget the tense backshift rule and simply copy the present tense of the reported clause. Others may overcompensate by using past perfect even when simple past would suffice. Another common mistake is mismanaging the conjunction that, either omitting it when required in formal writing or repeating it unnecessarily. The best way to avoid such errors is to practise systematic transformations of direct sentences into indirect speech and to read dialogues in graded readers where indirect forms appear frequently.

Final Answer:
The correct indirect speech form is Sara answered that the photographs were under the drawer. so option d is correct.