In this vocabulary and collocation question, choose the correct word to complete the sentence: "The army has been __________ to be ready to control the floods."

Introduction / Context:
This question tests your knowledge of verbs commonly used with the army or emergency forces in situations of potential danger, such as floods. The sentence is: "The army has been __________ to be ready to control the floods." You must select the verb that best fits this context and forms the most natural, idiomatic expression.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Sentence: "The army has been __________ to be ready to control the floods."
• Option A: "alerted"
• Option B: "warned"
• Option C: "awakened"
• Option D: "wanted"
• The context is official communication or preparation in advance of a natural disaster.

Concept / Approach:
When authorities prepare the army or emergency services for possible action, the usual expression is "to alert them", meaning to inform them of a situation and put them on standby. The passive "has been alerted" is widely used in news reports: "The army has been alerted to move in if necessary." While "warned" can also appear, it usually focuses on cautioning someone about a danger, not specifically making them ready to act. "Awakened" refers to literally waking someone from sleep. "Wanted" is used in law enforcement contexts ("wanted by the police") and does not fit here. Therefore, "alerted" is the best and most precise choice.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the subject and context: "The army" in a situation involving floods.Step 2: Notice the phrase "to be ready to control the floods", which clearly refers to being put on standby.Step 3: Recall that "alerted" is the standard verb used when troops are informed and prepared for possible action.Step 4: Insert "alerted" in the sentence: "The army has been alerted to be ready to control the floods."Step 5: Verify that the resulting sentence sounds natural and is commonly used in news and official communication.

Verification / Alternative check:
Try each option in the sentence. "The army has been warned to be ready to control the floods" is not entirely wrong, but it is less precise; we usually warn people about danger, but we alert forces for action. "The army has been awakened to be ready to control the floods" wrongly suggests that the entire army was literally sleeping. "The army has been wanted to be ready to control the floods" is ungrammatical and does not convey any clear meaning here. Only "alerted" combines correctly with the passive structure and the context of readiness.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Option B "warned" focuses on giving a warning, not specifically on putting troops on standby; it is less idiomatic than "alerted" in this military context.
• Option C "awakened" describes waking someone from sleep and is not used metaphorically with an entire army in this context.
• Option D "wanted" is used when authorities seek to arrest someone and does not fit with the idea of preparing forces for floods.

Common Pitfalls:
Students may choose "warned" because it seems close to the idea of danger. However, collocation is crucial: newspapers and official reports typically say "the army has been alerted" when discussing mobilisation. Exam questions often check whether candidates know these standard combinations rather than just approximate meanings. Paying attention to common phrases in news articles, especially involving police, army, and emergency services, will make such questions easy to answer.

Final Answer:
The correct word is "alerted", so the complete sentence is: "The army has been alerted to be ready to control the floods."