Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank.

The news of the robbery spread faster than ________.

fire

The most appropriate option to fill in the blank is fire.

This is a common idiom that compares how quickly the news of the robbery spread to how quickly fire spreads. Fire is a very fast-moving force of nature, and it can spread quickly through a community. The news of the robbery spread just as quickly, and it was soon known by everyone in the area.

The other options are not as appropriate.

• Wind is a fast-moving force of nature, but it is not as fast as fire.
• Water is not a fast-moving force of nature.
• Air is not a force of nature at all.