During her early day in school, she … study for hours,

Analyze the question The sentence is: "During her early days in school, she __ study for hours." The phrase "during her early days" refers to the past, so we need a modal verb that can express a past habit.

Explain the concept "Would" can describe a repeated action or habit in the past. It means the same as "used to".

• When we were children, we would play in the river every evening.
• During her early days in school, she would study for hours.

The other modals do not fit the past habitual meaning:

• may expresses possibility or permission in the present or future. "She may study for hours" does not describe a past habit.
• can expresses present ability. It does not fit a past time frame.
• shall is used for future actions, or for offers and suggestions with "I" and "we". It is not used for past habits.

Solution

1. The time marker is "during her early days in school", which is the past.
2. The action, studying for hours, is repeated, so it is a habit.
3. Only "would" can express a repeated past habit.

So the sentence reads: "During her early days in school, she would study for hours."

Answer: A. would

Exam tip When a sentence has a past time phrase such as "when I was young", "in those days" or "during her early days", and the action is repeated, think of would (or used to). Remember that would = past habit.