Question

Modern methods of _____ earthquakes recognize that quakes, far from being geologic anamalies, are part of the periodic accumulation and discharge of _____ energy.

• A. Identifying ..... iconic
• B. Locating ..... cosmic
• C. Predicting ..... seismic
• D. Watching ..... heavenly

Hint:

Recall the scientific term for the energy released in an earthquake, and the verb for foreseeing an event.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

This sentence talks about how modern science studies earthquakes and what kind of energy is involved in them. The first blank needs a verb that fits with modern methods studying quakes before they happen, and the second blank needs an adjective that describes the type of energy released in an earthquake.

1. Identifying ..... iconic: "Identifying earthquakes" would only make sense after a quake has already happened, but the sentence talks about recognizing a pattern in advance, so this does not fit well, and "iconic energy" is not a real or meaningful phrase.
2. Locating ..... cosmic: "Locating earthquakes" refers to finding where a quake occurred, not to studying them as periodic events, and "cosmic energy" refers to energy from outer space, which has nothing to do with earthquakes.
3. Predicting ..... seismic: "Predicting earthquakes" fits perfectly with the idea of modern methods recognizing quakes as part of a periodic pattern, and "seismic energy" is the correct scientific term for the energy released in earthquakes.
4. Watching ..... heavenly: "Watching earthquakes" is vague and does not capture the scientific sense of the sentence, and "heavenly energy" is not a term used in earthquake science.

The correct pair is "Predicting ..... seismic", since modern methods try to predict earthquakes by studying the periodic build up and release of seismic energy in the earth.

Let's summarize:

• "Predicting" matches the idea of modern science studying quakes as a periodic and foreseeable event.
• "Seismic energy" is the standard scientific term for the energy released during an earthquake.

So the correct option is (c), "Predicting ..... seismic".