Select the most appropriate pair of words to fill in the blanks in the following sentence:-

The hikers walked ____ the open field and then made their way _____ the dense forest.

across, through

The correct answer is Option (4) → across, through

To walk across an open field means to go from one side to the other. This preposition perfectly describes movement over a wide, relatively flat, and unobstructed area.

To make one's way through a dense forest means to move within and penetrate the thick mass of trees, foliage, and undergrowth to get from one side to the other.