He said it was the second time that he __ such a gift

He said it was the second time that he __ such a gift

答案是had received.
这是个固定句型 it is the first time that .
不管是第一次还是第几次,后面的从句都应该是完成时态.
如果前面的句子是过去时,后面就应该是过去完成时.
如.it is the first time that he has been to Beijing.
It was the third time that they had visited the Great Wall.