past simple vs past continuous

[Clark]

I can't decide between past simple and past continuous in the following sentences.

1. Queen Victoria ruled / was ruling more than a hundred years ago.

2. He read / was reading a lot when he was a student.

3. I prepared / was preparing for the report for a whole hour yesterday.


It looks either of them is possible, but there must be some difference in how the event is pictured. What is it?

[Soup]

1. Queen Victoria ruled more than a hundred years ago.

2. He read a lot when he was a student.

3. I prepared / was preparing for the report for a whole hour yesterday.

• Present Simple = fact
• Continuous, Be -ing + TIME (i.e., ... when ... / At the time, ..., etc.)