I heard that you . . . . . . . . about the boys all day, so I just rang to tell you that Matthew . . . . . . . . from a payphone a couple of hours ago and they are both fine. The weather is fine and they will be home on Sunday evening.

The correct answer is: B. have been worrying/phoned.

The speaker is calling to tell the listener that Matthew phoned and said that he and the boys are fine. This means that the listener was worrying about the boys, and the speaker is now telling them that there is no need to worry. The past participle “phoned” is used to describe an action that has already happened, and the present perfect continuous “have been worrying” is used to describe an action that has been happening for some time. This makes sense in the context of the conversation, as the listener has been worrying about the boys for some time.

The other options are incorrect for the following reasons:

• A. “had been worrying/will phone” is incorrect because the speaker is telling the listener that Matthew phoned, not that he will phone.
• C. “will be worrying/had phoned” is incorrect because the speaker is telling the listener that Matthew phoned, not that he will phone.
• D. “are worrying/is going to phone” is incorrect because the speaker is telling the listener that Matthew phoned, not that he is going to phone.
• E. “were worrying/phones” is incorrect because the speaker is telling the listener that Matthew phoned, not that he phones.