In the following passage there are blanks, each of which has been numbered. Select the correct option to fill in the blanks.
The volcano had been inactive for centuries. There was little warning of the coming____1______, although one account by archaeologists 2__ that a hard rain and a strong wind had disturbed the 3_ calm during the preceding night. Early the next morning, the volcano poured a huge river of 4_ rock down upon Herculaneum, completely burying the city and filling the harbor with 5 lava.

Correct option is D

The correct option to fill in the blanks is (d).
Explanation of each blank:
1. Eruption – correct scientific term for volcanic activity. (Hindi: विस्फोट)
2. Unearthed – suitable verb used in archaeology; implies discovery. (Hindi: उजागर किया)
3. Celestial – refers to sky-related calm, poetic description of night atmosphere. (Hindi: आकाशीय)
4. Molten – describes rock in liquid form due to heat. (Hindi: पिघला हुआ)
5. Coagulated – means thickened or clotted, fits with lava solidifying in harbor. (Hindi: जम चुका)
Why other options are incorrect:
· Option (a): "outburst" is used for emotions, not natural phenomena like volcanoes.
· Option (b): "liquid" is too generic; “molten” is more scientific and precise.
· Option (c): “smelted” refers to metal extraction, not natural lava flow.