Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank number 2.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
The correct answer is option 1, i.e. “energy.”
The sentence reads:
“…the abrupt release of accumulated strain (2) _______ within the Earth's crust, leading to seismic shaking…”
This refers to the sudden discharge of stored strain energy in the Earth's crust that triggers an earthquake. The British Geological Survey confirms this phrasing:
“An earthquake is the sudden release of strain energy in the Earth’s crust…”
Neither “mineral,” “metal,” nor “light” aligns with this scientific definition.