[Grammar] "this/that" in reported speech

[angelene001]

I've got a question to turn into reported speech and it's out-of-date reporting:
"Who is this man?" the old lady asked her husband.

According to what I've learned about "this/that" + noun in reported speech, it should be:
The old lady asked her husband who the man was.

Is this correct?

The key to the exercises says:
The old lady asked her husband who that man was.
So they apply the rule for "this" in time expressions.

I'm confused.

Same problem with:
"Do you have this in a smaller size?" she asked the shop assistant.

I would change it like this:
She asked the shop assistant if she had it in a smaller size.

But the key again says:
She asked the shop assistant if they had that in a smaller size.

 

[MikeNewYork]

The word "this" refers to something that is close to us in physical space or time. 'That" can be used for things that are distant from us in physical space or time. These differences are relative, however. I would accept both of your versions using "the"
and "it".

 

[angelene001]

The word "this" refers to something that is close to us in physical space or time. 'That" can be used for things that are distant from us in physical space or time. These differences are relative, however. I would accept both of your versions using "the"
and "it".

What would be your natural choice, as a native speaker, in such situations? Let's say they are being reported later, in different place and at different time.

"Who is this man?" the old lady asked her husband.
"Do you have this in a smaller size?" she asked the shop assistant.

1. She asked the shop assistant if she had it in a smaller size.
The old lady asked her husband who the man was.

2. She asked the shop assistant if they had that in a smaller size.
The old lady asked her husband who that man was.

 

[MikeNewYork]

To tell you the truth, I don't see much difference. I could say either and probably have.