Select the most appropriate synonym of the underlined word.

No one was prepared for the environmental calamity that hit the town in the middle of the night.

The correct answer is option 2), i.e., 'Catastrophe.'

Key Points   

• Let's look at the meaning of the given word:

  Word	Meaning
  Calamity	an unexpected and disastrous event. (आपदा, विपत्ति)

   

• ​Let's look at the meanings of the other given options:

  Word	Meaning
  Damage	physical harm caused to something that impairs its value or usefulness. (क्षति, नुक़सान)
  Catastrophe	an event causing great and often sudden damage or suffering; a disaster. (तबाही, दुर्घटना, विनाश, बरबादी)
  Degradation	the condition or process of degrading or being degraded, especially to a lower rank, status, or level of moral character. (निम्नीकरण)
  Stress	pressure or tension exerted on a material object or a person's mental or emotional state. (तनाव, दबाव)

• Clearly, the word 'Catastrophe' is closest in meaning to the given word 'calamity.'
• Therefore, the correct synonym of the given word is option 2.