The correct answer is: C. were surprised
The sentence is in the past tense, so we need to use a past tense verb. The verb “surprise” can be used in the past tense in two ways:
- Simple past: We were surprised at the news of her defeat.
- Past participle: We were surprised by the news of her defeat.
In this case, we need to use the simple past tense because the sentence is about a specific event that happened in the past. The past participle is used to form the passive voice, which is not appropriate in this case.
The other options are incorrect because they are not in the past tense. Option A, “surprised,” is the present tense form of the verb. Option B, “surprising,” is the present participle form of the verb. Option D, “had been surprised,” is the past perfect tense form of the verb.
Here is a more detailed explanation of each option:
- Option A: surprised
This is the present tense form of the verb “surprise.” It is not appropriate in this case because the sentence is about a specific event that happened in the past.
- Option B: surprising
This is the present participle form of the verb “surprise.” It is used to form the progressive tenses, which are not appropriate in this case.
- Option C: were surprised
This is the simple past tense form of the verb “surprise.” It is appropriate in this case because the sentence is about a specific event that happened in the past.
- Option D: had been surprised
This is the past perfect tense form of the verb “surprise.” It is not appropriate in this case because the sentence is not about an event that happened before another event in the past.