Question

read the passage and then answer the question. at high latitudes, one might look into the night sky and see dazzling curtains of colorful light. this brilliant sight, known as an aurora, is the result of solar winds. solar winds occur when the outer layers of the sun boil off due to the intense heat, emitting streams of magnetically charged particles into the surrounding space. some of these solar wind particles end up traveling in earth’s direction. if unimpeded, these particles would have deleterious effects on human health, increasing the risk of heart failure and other health problems. but earth’s magnetic poles—located near the geographic north and south poles—create a magnetic field that protects the planet from the solar wind particles. some of these particles, however, do manage to break free and end up colliding with oxygen and nitrogen in earth’s atmosphere. the collisions release energy, thus creating the aurora’s stunning display. what is the meaning of brilliant as used in the passage? intelligent shining visible surprising

Explanation:

The passage describes the aurora as "dazzling curtains of colorful light" and later notes the "stunning display" created by particle collisions. "Brilliant" here refers to the bright, glowing quality of this light display, which matches the meaning of "shining". The other options do not fit: "intelligent" refers to mental capacity, "visible" just means able to be seen (not the bright quality), and "surprising" relates to unexpectedness, not the light's appearance.

Answer:

shining