[amp_mcq option1=”crossed” option2=”would cross” option3=”had crossed” option4=”shall cross E. No improvement” correct=”option1″]
The correct answer is A. crossed.
The prisoners walked slowly because they knew that as soon as they crossed the gate, the jailer would ask them to jog. This means that the prisoners were not yet at the gate, and they were walking slowly in order to conserve their energy for when they would have to jog.
The other options are incorrect because they do not accurately reflect the situation. Option B, would cross, is incorrect because the prisoners were not yet at the gate, so they could not have crossed it. Option C, had crossed, is incorrect because the prisoners were still walking, so they had not yet crossed the gate. Option D, shall cross, is incorrect because the prisoners were not yet at the gate, so they could not have crossed it. Option E, No improvement, is incorrect because the sentence is improved by changing the verb to crossed.