Which word describes when one country officially takes control of another area and makes it part of its own territory?

• A. Colonized
• B. Occupied
• C. Incorporated
• D. Annexed

Answer: (D)

This question tests how a state formalizes the addition of new land to its sovereignty. When a country officially takes control of another area and makes it part of its own territory, the precise term is annexation. This implies a formal legal act that integrates the new land into the country's borders and governance.

Colonized describes establishing control and settlement, often in a distant or culturally different region, but not necessarily legal incorporation into the parent state. Occupied refers to control of territory during a conflict, typically without permanent transfer or full sovereignty. Incorporated can mean being brought into an administrative or legal framework, but it doesn’t by itself denote the act of adding territory as a sovereign part of the state. Annexation specifically captures the idea of adding land as part of the country’s territory, making it the best fit.