Choose the correct alternative to fill in the blank.
Before we had finished our meal, he ________ us back to work.

The correct answer is Option A (ordered).

Key Points:
• This question tests the sequence of tenses in past time clauses with 'before'.
• Grammar Rule:
• When a past action happened before another past action, the earlier action uses the Past Perfect tense ('had finished'), and the subsequent action uses the Simple Past tense.
• Contextual Fit:
• Clause 1 (earlier): Before we had finished our meal
• Clause 2 (subsequent): he ordered us back to work (Simple Past).
• Therefore, the simple past verb ordered is correct. Option 1 is correct.
• Key Takeaway: In past time clauses with 'before', the subsequent action is stated in the Simple Past tense ('ordered').