Trump continues to pledge _____ by military ships for oil tankers through the Strait of ______ but has yet to do so

• A. Patrols, Bab-el-Mandeb
• B. Guardians, Suez
• C. Escorts, Hormuz
• D. Convoys, Hormuz

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is choosing the natural verb for how navies protect shipping and identifying the correct chokepoint. When discussing protecting oil shipments through a dangerous waterway, the common action is to provide escorts—military ships that accompany and shield vessels as they pass. The Strait of Hormuz is that critical chokepoint at the mouth of the Persian Gulf, where oil tankers often need protection on their transit.

So, Escorts, Hormuz fits smoothly: military ships would escort oil tankers through Hormuz. The other options use less typical phrases or point to a different location—Patrols doesn’t convey actively guiding ships, Guardians is not a standard naval term, and Convoys suggests a grouped passage rather than ongoing escort. Bab-el-Mandeb and Suez refer to different routes, not the Strait of Hormuz.