Meaning: 'Peak' refers to the highest point or level of something, in this case, the age at which offending is most common.

Wrong options:

• major: While 'major' can imply significance, it does not specifically denote a point in time like 'peak' does, making it less precise in this context.
• maximum: 'Maximum' suggests the absolute highest limit but lacks the nuance of a specific age, which 'peak' conveys more effectively.
• top: 'Top' is more informal and does not convey the specific context of age as accurately as 'peak' does.

Correct answer: risk

Explanation: The term 'risk' is appropriate as it refers to the likelihood of being a victim of crime, fitting grammatically and contextually within the sentence structure.

Meaning: 'Risk' means the possibility of something harmful or undesirable happening, in this case, being a victim of crime.

Wrong options:

• percentage: 'Percentage' quantifies a part of a whole but does not convey the likelihood of victimization as effectively as 'risk'.
• seriousness: 'Seriousness' refers to the gravity of a situation but does not relate to the likelihood of occurrence, making it contextually irrelevant here.
• rate: 'Rate' could imply frequency but lacks the specific connotation of danger or likelihood that 'risk' provides.

Correct answer: varies

Explanation: The verb 'varies' correctly indicates that the level of risk changes based on location, fitting both grammatically and contextually within the sentence.

Meaning: 'Varies' means to change or differ, indicating that the risk of being a victim of crime is not constant and depends on various factors.

Wrong options:

• adapts: 'Adapts' implies a change in response to conditions, which does not fit the context of changing levels of risk as 'varies' does.
• transforms: 'Transforms' suggests a complete change, which is too strong for the context of fluctuating risk levels.
• adjusts: 'Adjusts' implies a modification but does not convey the idea of changing levels as effectively as 'varies'.

Correct answer: reliance

Explanation: The word 'reliance' fits grammatically as it indicates dependence on something, in this case, the opportunity for crime, making it contextually relevant.

Meaning: 'Reliance' means dependence on something, suggesting that criminals depend on easy opportunities to commit crimes.

Wrong options:

• awareness: 'Awareness' refers to knowledge or perception, which does not fit the context of dependence on opportunity.
• seizing: 'Seizing' implies taking hold of something, which does not convey the idea of dependence as 'reliance' does.
• taking: 'Taking' is a gerund that does not fit grammatically in this context, as it does not convey the sense of dependence.

Correct answer: key

Explanation: The word 'key' is appropriate as it signifies something crucial or essential, fitting grammatically and contextually within the sentence about crime prevention.

Meaning: 'Key' means something that is essential or critical, indicating that reliance on opportunity is fundamental to preventing crime.

Wrong options:

• answer: 'Answer' implies a solution but does not convey the essential nature of reliance in crime prevention as effectively as 'key'.
• method: 'Method' suggests a way of doing something but lacks the connotation of importance that 'key' provides in this context.
• way: 'Way' is too vague and does not emphasize the critical nature of reliance as 'key' does.