Select the most appropriate preposition from the given options to fill in the blank in the following sentence:-

We cruised _____ the canal for a few miles.

along

The correct answer is Option (1) → along

Along (Preposition): Indicates movement or position in a line next to something long and narrow, such as a road, a river, or a canal. Cruising along the canal means moving parallel to its length. 

• Across: Implies movement from one side of the canal to the other.

• Through: Usually implies moving within a confined, three-dimensional space or an obstacle (e.g., through a tunnel, through the water). While plausible, along is the more conventional preposition for describing travel down a waterway like a canal.

• Upto: Is an incorrect prepositional usage in this context.  Means “until,” does not fit with the verb “cruised.”