Task Two: Circle the correct alternative: (4 marks) After three days of a strike by sanitation workers in New York, piles of garbage were rising on the sidewalks. In the July heat, it (will rot/ was rotting / is rotting) very quickly. "I wish they (can go / will go / would go) back to work," said one angry citizen. Mayor Abraham Beane (told / tells / has told) reporters: "I hope we (find / will find / found) a solution to the problem in the next few days." In the meantime, fires had broken out in some areas as desperate people tried (to burn / burning / burned) the rubbish. The situation (seems / seeming / seemed) hopeless in the poorer parts of the city, but elsewhere people carried on as normally as possible, (to hope / hoped / hoping) the strike (will/shall / would) soon end.​