If he had spoken up, he wouldn't have been given. This means that

Analyze the question

The sentence "If he had spoken up, he wouldn't have been given..." is a third conditional (past unreal conditional). It talks about something that did not happen in the past and its imagined result.

Concept

Third conditional: If + past perfect, would (not) have + past participle.

• It always implies the opposite of what is stated.
• The "if" clause (had spoken up) means he did not speak up.
• The result clause (wouldn't have been given) means he was given.

So the real situation is: He didn't speak up, and he was given.

Step-by-step solution

1. "If he had spoken up" → in reality, he did not speak up.
2. "He wouldn't have been given" → in reality, he was given (something).
3. The sentence links the two: because he didn't speak up, the result happened. That is, he was given because he didn't speak up.

Checking the options

• A. He spoke up and was given. ✗ He did not speak up.
• B. He wasn't given because he spoke up. ✗ Reverses both facts.
• C. He didn't speak up and wasn't given. ✗ He was given, not "wasn't given".
• D. He was given because he didn't speak up. ✓ Matches both reversed facts and the cause-and-effect link.

Tip

For third conditional "meaning" questions, reverse both parts: positive becomes negative and negative becomes positive. "Had spoken" → "didn't speak"; "wouldn't have been given" → "was given". Then join them with "because".