Which phrase refers to a period of time that has been stated earlier in a text?

• A. the period in question
• B. the period in focus
• C. the time frame
• D. the period under review

Answer: (A)

This item tests how to refer back to a time period that was already stated in the text. The phrase that signals this exact, previously mentioned period is the period in question. It explicitly points to the specific time frame under discussion, using a standard, unambiguous expression that keeps the reference clear for the reader. The other options are more general or imply a different kind of reference: a broad time frame not tied to what was described earlier, a focus that's more about emphasis than a specific prior mention, or a label for something being reviewed rather than the exact period previously described. So the period in question is the best choice because it directly and precisely ties the reference back to the earlier stated time.