Which word completes the sentence 'The soldiers had been marching for hours () the DI told them to stop'?

• A. Until
• B. When
• C. After
• D. Since

Answer: (A)

This question tests choosing a time connector that shows the end point of a continuous past action. The phrase “had been marching for hours” describes an action that went on for a long time and then stopped when something happened. The word that best expresses that the marching continued up to the moment the order was given is until. So the sentence reads: The soldiers had been marching for hours until the DI told them to stop.

Using when would place the stopping moment at a point during the marching, which changes the emphasis a bit. After would imply the marching happened first and then the order, which isn’t the intended sense here. Since doesn’t fit the sequence of events in this past-time context.