Question

Choose the correct option.
The scene was horrific: there was debris ___________ all around the shipwreck.
A. Fled
B. Shattered
C. Smashed
D. Floating

Answer 1

Hint: The sentence suggests a shipwreck, that is destruction caused to a ship. A ship runs in water, therefore the destruction caused to it will also be in waters. The destruction of a ship causes wreckage that is broken pieces which are called debris. Therefore, the debris of a shipwreck will float in the waters.

Complete step by step answer:
To know the correct answer let us analyse each option in detail.

Fled: The word ‘fled’ is a simple past tense of the word ‘flee’ which means to run away from a situation that may be dangerous. Example: The con artist fled from the police after a heist. By implying this option, the sentence becomes ‘The scene was horrific: there was debris fled all around the shipwreck’. This doesn’t make sense and is incorrect.
Shattered: The word ‘shattered’ means to break into pieces, damage. Example: The storm shattered many houses by the shore. By implying this option, the sentence becomes ‘The scene was horrific: there was debris shattered all around the shipwreck’. This doesn’t make sense and is incorrect.
Smashed: The word ‘smashed’ means to break into pieces violently by an external force. Example: He smashed the bottle on his head. By implying this option, the sentence becomes ‘The scene was horrific: there was debris smashed all around the shipwreck’. This doesn’t make sense and is incorrect.
Floating: The word ‘floating’ means to remain on the surface of a liquid, be buoyant. Example: The lotuses were floating on the river. By implying this option, the sentence becomes ‘The scene was horrific: there was debris floating all around the shipwreck’. This doesn’t make sense and is incorrect.

So, the correct answer is “Option D”.

Note:
Actions like smash and shatter usually involve solid structures that are broken into pieces and remain on a solid surface. Whereas our answer ‘floating’ is an action that occurs on a liquid surface involving things that are buoyant. More synonyms of the word ‘floating’ are sail, swim, glide. Example: The ship is off for a sail.