Which term most closely means 'growth or increase in size or number'?

• A. Expansionist
• B. Expandability
• C. Expansion
• D. Expand

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is finding the word that names the process of getting bigger or increasing in number. Expansion is the noun that directly captures that idea: it refers to the act or process of expanding, growing, or becoming larger. This fits the definition of growth or increase in size or number exactly, and you’ll see it used in contexts like economic expansion or population expansion, where there’s a clear sense of growth over time.

The other forms don’t fit as well. Expand is a verb meaning to cause something to grow, not the growth itself. Expandability describes the potential to grow rather than actual growth. Expansionist refers to someone who advocates expansion, not the growth process itself.