A URL identifies a particular ___ address on the World Wide Web.

A URL, which stands for Uniform Resource Locator, serves as a reference to a specific location on the World Wide Web. The correct answer, which identifies a particular resource, highlights that a URL can point to various types of web content, including web pages, images, videos, and downloadable files. Each of these items is classified as a resource on the internet.

The primary function of a URL is to provide a unique address that directs users to a specific resource hosted on a web server. For example, when you enter a URL into a web browser, it requests access to the resource located at that address, allowing it to be fetched and displayed for the user.

While the other options may seem relevant, they do not accurately capture the broad functionality and purpose of a URL. A file is just one type of resource, while a directory could refer to a collection of resources, and a host pertains to the server where resources are stored but does not encompass the individual types of content represented by a URL. Thus, resource is the most comprehensive and accurate term in identifying what a URL specifies on the web.