Meaning of the phrase "a way in a jungle"

[Vladimir]

Hello,

I like doing grammar exercises. It's like to find a way in a jungle. There is a self-study reference and practice book by M. Hewings. In unit 6 on the left-hand page it's said 'we use the past simple rather than the past continuous when we are talking about repeated actions or events in the past' and an example is given:

She slept very badly whenever she stayed with her grandparents.

On the right-hand side there are exercises to do. Doing the ex N 6.4 I've made a mistake:

Whenever I call in on Sam,he talked on the phone.('was talking' is the correct answer according to the key).

In my opinion 'whenever' indicates repeated actions in the past in both sentences.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

vladimir.

[Lost_Soul]

Hi, Vovka ! (I guess it's OK :) )
I disagree with you. In that sentence we need to express the idea of the continuity of the "talk" action. Whenever I called in on Sam, he was talking on the phone.
Compare it with these (fundamental facts, something which remains the same):
Since when do frogs talk
Women talk all the time

Marry Christmas to you too, !

[Yankee]