Question

Choose the correct form of the verb to fill in the following blank:
They _________ television for a few hours before the lights went out.

• A. were watched
• B. had been watching
• C. are watching
• D. have watched

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

Here, had been watching in Past Perfect Continuous Tense is correct because it is used to indicate an action in the past that began before a certain point in the past and continued up untill that time. Here, 'for few hours' indicate an action in the past that began before a certain point in the past.
'Are watching' in present continuous is incorrect because it implies an action going on at the time of speaking.
'Have watched' in present perfect is incorrect because it is used to indicate an action which started in the past and has continued up untill now.