The minimum temperature of the day occurs generally ____________.

in the early morning

The correct answer is Option (4) - in the early morning

The minimum temperature of the day typically occurs in the early morning hours, shortly before sunrise. This is because during the night, when there is no sunlight, the Earth's surface loses heat through radiation, causing temperatures to drop. As the night progresses, the cooling effect continues until it reaches its lowest point just before dawn. After sunrise, the Earth begins to absorb sunlight, causing temperatures to rise gradually throughout the day. Therefore, the lowest temperature readings are usually recorded in the early morning hours.