The sentence given is: "Security measures have been intensified at the airport _ _ _ _ _ _ an order from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security."
To determine the correct word for the blank, let's analyze the context and the structure of the sentence.
- The sentence is about security measures being intensified at the airport.
- The blank is followed by an "order from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security," suggesting a cause-effect or sequential relationship.
- Let's analyze the options:
- Following: This word suggests that the intensification of security measures happened because of or as a result of the order. It fits well as it shows sequence and causality.
- Preceding: This word means before in time or order. The sentence structure suggests an action taken in response to an order, so "preceding" does not fit well.
- Earlier: This simply refers to a previous time, which doesn't provide a clear cause-effect relationship between the order and the action.
- Before: Similar to "preceding," it indicates a prior point in time, which doesn't fit the chronological or causal nature implied by the sentence.
- The best fit for the sentence is "following" since it correctly establishes that the security measures were intensified as a result of the order from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security.
Therefore, the correct word to complete the sentence is following.
The completed sentence is: "Security measures have been intensified at the airport following an order from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security."