17. Which sentence contains a verb in the simple past tense?

A. She has obeyed her father.
B. She obeyed her father.
C. She obeys her father.
D. She had obeyed her father.

"obeyed" is the simple past tense form of "obey" -- but if it's used with a helping verb (is, was, has, have, etc.), it's in another tense or voice.

So which sentence has the past tense form used WITHOUT a helping verb?

To determine which sentence contains a verb in the simple past tense, we need to understand that the simple past tense refers to actions that have already happened in the past and are now completed.

Let's analyze each sentence to identify the one that matches this definition:

A. "She has obeyed her father." - This sentence is in the present perfect tense, indicating an action that started in the past and continues up until the present. It does not match the definition of the simple past tense.

B. "She obeyed her father." - This sentence uses the simple past tense. The verb "obeyed" indicates that the action of obeying her father is already completed in the past.

C. "She obeys her father." - This sentence is in the present tense, indicating a habitual or ongoing action in the present. It does not match the definition of the simple past tense.

D. "She had obeyed her father." - This sentence is in the past perfect tense, indicating an action that was completed before another past action. It does not match the definition of the simple past tense.

Therefore, the sentence that contains a verb in the simple past tense is B. "She obeyed her father."