'The military is going to lay a trap to arrest the terrorists'.
The underlined form in the sentence above is used to convey _________.
(a) intention to perform a certain action in the near future
(b) planned action
(c) action in remote future
(d) a great probability
Answer options :

The correct answer is Option C ((a) only).

Key Points:
• Core Language Concept Tested: The question primarily tests the candidate's understanding of English Tenses and structures, specifically the usage of the "be going to" form to express future time references.
• Why the Correct Option is Right: The official answer key marks option 3 as correct, which corresponds to '(a) intention to perform a certain action in the near future'. The structure "is/are going to + base verb" is a standard grammatical form used in English to express an intention, a decision that has already been made, or something that is certain to happen based on present evidence, specifically pointing to the near future.
• Common Exam Traps and Pitfalls: Candidates might get confused between "intention" and "planned action" (option b). While they are semantically close, standard grammar references generally define "going to" primarily as expressing an intention or a prediction based on present evidence, making (a) the most precise academic definition.
• Elimination of Incorrect Options: Looking at the other choices, (c) "remote future" is incorrect because "going to" typically conveys immediacy or near future. (d) "great probability" is usually expressed by modals like "should" or adverbs like "probably". Thus, by a process of systematic elimination based on strict grammar rules, we arrive safely at the correct choice.
• Preparation Strategy: Review the nuanced differences between "will" (spontaneous decisions) and "going to" (prior intentions).
• Key Takeaway: Remember: The 'be going to + verb' construction is classically used to express a prior intention to do something in the near future.