What describes a trench?

• A. An excavation in the earth that is narrow in width, usually 15 ft or narrower; longer and deeper than it is wide.
• B. A wide open pit excavated for mining.
• C. A shallow ditch used for drainage.
• D. A tunnel bored underground.

Answer: (A)

A trench is a long, narrow excavation in the earth. Its width is restricted, typically 15 feet or less, and it is longer and deeper than it is wide. That makes it distinct from other features: a wide open pit is broad and not constrained in width, a shallow drainage ditch is usually not deep, and a tunnel is a bored underground passage. So the description that best fits a trench is the long, narrow cut in the ground with limited width and greater length and depth.