Directions: The question below has two blanks, each blank indicating that something has been omitted. Choose the set of words for each blank that best fits in the meaning of the sentence as a whole. Millions of years ago, a volcano ________ a mountain on the floor of the Atlantic; in eruption after eruption, it pushed up a great pile of volcanic rock, until it had accumulated a mass a hundred mile across at its base, reaching ________ towards the surface of the sea.

The clue for the first blank is found in the latter part of the sentence as this is an explanation to the first part. “Pushed up” and “accumulated a mass” signifies that a volcano built a mountain, and not collapsed, as we would have thought. As ‘built’ is one of our options, hence, (4) is the answer. ‘Forged’ in option (5) is to form or shape (metal) with blows or pressure from a hammer, press, or other machine, usually after heating; which is not coherent with volcanoes building up a mountain.