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IMO (B)

A) - mixed it in a little truth with her story outright non-sensical
B) - looks great - more on this while looking at (D)
C) - would mix - again, this doesn't make sense
D) - now, between (B) and (D), D uses had mixed, but the past events - she mixed it in a little truth with her story, although most of what she said was false, both happened simultaneously, so the usage of past perfect is incorrect here, and hence, (D) is eliminated
E) - look at had been mixing and then look at most of what she said was false. Super-awkward construction. And hence, (E) too is eliminated.

(B) is the correct answer choice, for this question.

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Could you give an example of when the “had mixed” option would be accurate?

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Sure, look at the following sentences:

Chris had left already by the time Robert reached - we know two events that happened in the past, but we clearly see that the action of Chris leaving happened before Robert reaching. Thus, the use of "had left" is correct.

He had lived in India before moving to Canada. - again, two events that happened in the past - he lived in India happened before he moved to Canada

Thus, whenever you are to compare two events that happened in the past, the event that happened earlier of the two has to be depicted with "past perfect" tense.
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IMO (B)

A) - mixed it in a little truth with her story outright non-sensical
B) - looks great - more on this while looking at (D)
C) - would mix - again, this doesn't make sense
D) - now, between (B) and (D), D uses had mixed, but the past events - she mixed it in a little truth with her story, although most of what she said was false, both happened simultaneously, so the usage of past perfect is incorrect here, and hence, (D) is eliminated
E) - look at had been mixing and then look at most of what she said was false. Super-awkward construction. And hence, (E) too is eliminated.

(B) is the correct answer choice, for this question.

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Could you give an example of when the “had mixed” option would be accurate?

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Sure, look at the following sentences:

Chris had left already by the time Robert reached - we know two events that happened in the past, but we clearly see that the action of Chris leaving happened before Robert reaching. Thus, the use of "had left" is correct.

He had lived in India before moving to Canada. - again, two events that happened in the past - he lived in India happened before he moved to Canada

Thus, whenever you are to compare two events that happened in the past, the event that happened earlier of the two has to be depicted with "past perfect" tense.

Thanks for the reply. So we use the “mixed” option because both events were occurring at the same time?
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Could you give an example of when the “had mixed” option would be accurate?

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Sure, look at the following sentences:

Chris had left already by the time Robert reached - we know two events that happened in the past, but we clearly see that the action of Chris leaving happened before Robert reaching. Thus, the use of "had left" is correct.

He had lived in India before moving to Canada. - again, two events that happened in the past - he lived in India happened before he moved to Canada

Thus, whenever you are to compare two events that happened in the past, the event that happened earlier of the two has to be depicted with "past perfect" tense.


Thanks for the reply. So we use the “mixed” option because both events were occurring at the same time?

Correct. Since they both were simultaneous events, you can't say that one happened earlier than the other, and hence, cannot use "had mixed". Hope it helped. :)
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Mike believed her because she mixed it in a little truth with her story, although most of what she said was false.

(A) mixed it

(B) mixed

(C) would mix

(D) had mixed

(E) had been mixing

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION:



(Error in Tense) Aglance at the choices should alert you to the only probable error being that of an incorrect tense. The sentence begins “Mike believed her” this is something that has happened already; a simple past tense. If this was currently happening, it would be stated “Mike believes her.” To stick with the same tense, the underlined portion must also be in the past. The last phrase “most of what she said was false” is also in the past.

The underlined portion is “mixed it” as in “she mixed it in a little truth.” Although the correct past tense of “mix” is used “mixed,” there is an incorrect “it” thrown in there, making it idiomatically incorrect.

So, (A) is wrong. Other choices offer versions of the past tense, but only option (B) offers the simple past tense “mixed.” “she mixed in a little truth”
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IMO (B)

A) - mixed it in a little truth with her story outright non-sensical
B) - looks great - more on this while looking at (D)
C) - would mix - again, this doesn't make sense
D) - now, between (B) and (D), D uses had mixed, but the past events - she mixed it in a little truth with her story, although most of what she said was false, both happened simultaneously, so the usage of past perfect is incorrect here, and hence, (D) is eliminated
E) - look at had been mixing and then look at most of what she said was false. Super-awkward construction. And hence, (E) too is eliminated.

(B) is the correct answer choice, for this question.


Since she lied before Mike believed her, can't one use had mixed?
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I have the same query as above. Even I thought since Mike believed after she mixed the truth then it should be had mixed. Can someone explain?

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