The cargo was intercepted on sea by …

Analyze the question: The sentence is "The cargo was intercepted on sea by _". We need the word that best describes people who attack and seize ships or their cargo at sea.

Explain the concept: This is a question on word choice and collocation. Each option has its own typical setting:

• Robbers are people who steal by force, usually on land (bank robbers, armed robbers).
• Thieves steal secretly, without confronting anyone, usually on land (house thieves).
• Terrorists use violence to create fear for political or ideological aims, not mainly to seize cargo.
• Pirates are criminals who attack ships at sea and seize them or their cargo.

Solution:

1. The key phrase is "on sea", so the setting is the ocean.
2. "Intercepted" means stopped and seized, which fits an attack on a ship.
3. The only word that specifically means sea robbers is pirates.
4. Robbers and thieves are too general and not tied to the sea. Terrorists do not fit as well because the sentence is about cargo being taken.

Answer: D. pirates

Tip: Link the setting to the criminal: sea means pirates, road means highway robbers, house means burglars. In "best completes" questions, choose the most specific word that fits the context. Pirates in the Gulf of Guinea are often in Nigerian news, which can help you remember it.