Question

I_____ the newspaper, when the bell_____

• A. read, was ringing
• B. was reading, rang
• C. had read, rings
• D. read, is ringing

Answer 1

Answer:

B. was reading, rang

his sentence describes two actions in the past:

• was reading → an action that was in progress in the past → Past Continuous Tense

• rang → a shorter action that interrupted the ongoing action → Simple Past Tense

Pattern:
Past Continuous + when + Simple Past

Examples:

• I was sleeping when the phone rang.

• She was cooking when the guests arrived.

• They were playing when it started to rain.