Tenses

At nine o'clock, an usher opened the main door, and all manners _____ forgotten in the rush to get inside.

• were

• had been

• Either could be used.

If hundreds of people have to go through a small door, the funnel effect _____ inevitable.

• is

• will be

• Either could be used here.

I turned up at the modern art gallery before nine to avoid the queue, but there ____ already, in fact, a small crowd there.

• was

• had been

• Either could be used there.

He was amazed to feel such a strong desire to go in; normally, he ____ have been less inclined to enter such a place.

• will

• would

• Either could be used there.

He presents us with purely factual account, never ____ us the occasion to question any of its content.

• give

• gives

• giving

• gave

He ____ most of his lifetime writing his history.

• spent

• had spent

He feared his enemies and all those who ___ him.

• could threaten

• could have threatened

• Either could be used.

He couldn't imagine what the room ____ look like now.

• will

• would

• Either could be used.

He could not afford to be out of the public eye; it ____ the death of his political career.

• would mean

• would have meant

• Either could be used.

Many similar examples ____ be seen in the text, but I would like to focus on this one.

• can

• could

• Either could be used.