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 spectators applauded the young athlete saying that he had broken all previous records.

Introduction / Context:
This question involves recognising how an emotional reaction and praise are likely expressed in Direct speech and then reported indirectly. The Indirect sentence is: The spectators applauded the young athlete saying that he had broken all previous records. You must identify the Direct speech sentence that would naturally be reported in this way.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- Subject: the spectators. - Action: applauded the young athlete. - Reported content: he had broken all previous records. - Situation: celebration of a sporting achievement.

Concept / Approach:
In Direct speech, people watching a record-breaking performance often use an exclamation like "Bravo!" and the present perfect "You have broken all records." When reported, this usually becomes a past perfect statement: "he had broken all previous records". Even if the verb "applauded" does not explicitly introduce speech, it implies that they were saying something while clapping. Exam questions often present such Indirect forms without quotation marks and expect you to infer the original exclamation.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise that "he had broken all previous records" in Indirect speech probably came from "You have broken all records" in Direct speech. Step 2: Replace "he" with "you" because the athlete is being addressed directly. Step 3: Use the present perfect "have broken", which can be backshifted to "had broken" in Indirect speech. Step 4: Add an exclamation such as "Bravo!" to match the emotional cheering implied by "applauded". Step 5: Form the Direct sentence: The spectators said to the young athlete, "Bravo! You have broken all records."

Verification / Alternative check:
Reporting the Direct sentence "The spectators said to the young athlete, "Bravo! You have broken all records.", we get: The spectators applauded the young athlete, saying that he had broken all previous records. The exclamation "Bravo!" symbolises applause, and "You have broken all records" naturally becomes "he had broken all previous records." This aligns closely with the question stem.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B omits the exclamation "Bravo!", which fails to reflect the enthusiastic applause described. Option C uses the past simple "You broke all records.", which would more likely be reported as "he broke all records" rather than "he had broken all previous records". Option D uses "You had broken all records" in Direct speech, which sounds unnatural as a spontaneous exclamation at the moment of victory and does not fit typical usage.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes ignore contextual clues such as "applauded" that point towards an exclamation. They may focus only on matching tenses mechanically instead of imagining what the speakers are likely to say in that real-world situation. Understanding common exclamations and typical tense usage in praise helps you quickly match Indirect sentences with their Direct counterparts in competitive English exams.

Final Answer:
The spectators said to the young athlete, "Bravo! You have broken all records."