In this passage completion question about a kerosene pump stove, select the preposition that correctly completes the phrase: the burner flame would spread ________ a loud noise.

Introduction / Context:
The passage describes how, as pressure increases in a kerosene pump stove, the burner flame changes and a loud sound is produced. The sentence in question says that the burner flame would spread blank a loud noise. Here you need to identify the correct preposition that links the spreading of the flame with the accompanying loud sound. This checks your familiarity with natural English combinations of verbs, prepositions, and nouns.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The relevant fragment is: the burner flame would spread ________ a loud noise.
• The options are within, with, at, during.
• The intention is to describe that as the flame spreads, a loud noise is heard at the same time.
• We need to choose a preposition that expresses accompaniment or association.

Concept / Approach:
In English, when we say that one event happens accompanied by another feature, we frequently use the pattern verb plus with plus noun, as in grow with a roar, burst with a bang, or spread with a loud noise. The preposition with expresses that the sound occurs together with the spreading flame. The other options indicate location, time, or a specific point, which do not match the intended meaning of accompaniment in this sentence.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Substitute each option into the sentence: spread within a loud noise, spread with a loud noise, spread at a loud noise, spread during a loud noise.Step 2: Check which phrase feels natural and clearly indicates that noise is produced as the flame spreads.Step 3: Within a loud noise is incorrect because within usually refers to being inside a physical or abstract boundary, which does not fit noise.Step 4: At a loud noise usually refers to a reaction to a noise, not an action accompanied by noise.Step 5: During a loud noise describes an event happening in the time period when the noise occurs, which is not as precise as describing accompaniment.Step 6: With a loud noise clearly expresses that noise accompanies the spreading flame and is the natural collocation.

Verification / Alternative Check:
You can verify this choice by testing similar sentences, such as The rocket took off with a loud roar or The door closed with a bang. In each case, with links the action and the sound that accompanies it. Replacing with by within, at, or during in these examples would make the sentences ungrammatical or unnatural. This comparison strongly supports with as the correct preposition in the exam sentence.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Within usually indicates inside a region or limit, like within the box or within an hour, and cannot take a loud noise as its object naturally. At is used for specific times or points or for reactions, such as laugh at a joke, not for accompaniment. During refers to a time span, such as during the night, which only loosely relates events and does not sound right here. None of these options conveys the simple idea that the noise accompanies the action of the flame spreading, so they must be rejected.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners are tempted by during because they think of the noise happening at the same time, but they overlook that with is the standard collocation for actions accompanied by a sound. Others may select at because they have seen it in phrases like shout at the noise, forgetting that the structure here is different. Always check for the typical preposition used with a verb and noun combination in natural English rather than relying only on general impressions.

Final Answer:
The correct phrase is: the burner flame would spread with a loud noise.