In the following question, a sentence is given in Indirect speech. Out of the four alternatives, select the option that correctly expresses the same idea in Direct speech: The master asked the people why they prevented him from going near the tiger.

Introduction / Context:
This question checks your ability to convert an Indirect question back into its original Direct speech form. The Indirect sentence is: The master asked the people why they prevented him from going near the tiger. You need to reconstruct the natural Direct question that would give rise to this reported form.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- Subject: the master. - Reporting verb: asked. - Indirect question clause: why they prevented him from going near the tiger. - Pronouns: "they" refers to the people; "him" refers to the master.

Concept / Approach:
In Direct speech, the master is addressing the people directly. Therefore, the subject "they" in the reported clause will be "you" in the original question. Similarly, "him" will become "me". Because the reported clause uses "prevented" (past tense), the Direct form is likely to have been in the present simple ("do you prevent"), with the reporting verb "asked" in the past being responsible for the tense change. The question word "why" remains the same when we move back to Direct speech.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Convert "they" (the people) back into "you", since the master is talking directly to them. Step 2: Convert "him" (the master) back into "me". Step 3: Change the reported clause "why they prevented him" into a present simple question: "Why do you prevent me". Step 4: Add the remainder of the sentence: "from going near the tiger". Step 5: Attach the reporting clause in Direct speech form: The master said to the people, "Why do you prevent me from going near the tiger?"

Verification / Alternative check:
If we start from option A, "The master said to the people, "Why do you prevent me from going near the tiger?", and report it, we obtain: The master asked the people why they prevented him from going near the tiger. The subject and object pronouns, as well as the tense shift from present simple to past simple, all align correctly with the Indirect sentence given in the question.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B uses "they" inside the quotation marks, which is incorrect because the master would address the people directly as "you", not as "they". Option C similarly uses "they" and "him" inside the quotes and introduces a present continuous form "are preventing", which does not match the simpler past form "prevented" in the reported sentence. Option D suggests a progressive reporting action "was asking", which does not correspond to the simple past "asked" used in the question stem.

Common Pitfalls:
Students often forget that in Direct speech, pronouns must be viewed from the speaker's perspective. When the master talks to the people, he uses "you" and "me"; in Indirect speech, these may become "they" and "him". Additionally, learners sometimes introduce unnecessary progressive forms, such as "are preventing", when a simple tense is sufficient. Keeping track of who is speaking, who is being addressed, and at what time helps avoid these errors.

Final Answer:
The master said to the people, "Why do you prevent me from going near the tiger?"