Explanation:

To determine which word 'nic' represents, we analyze the given coded statements: (I) 'pic vic nic' means 'winter is cold' (II) 'tic nic ric' means 'summer is hot' (III) 'ric pic bic' means 'winter and summer' (IV) 'vic hic pac' means 'nights are cold' 1. **Compare statement (I) and (II):** * The common code word in both statements is 'nic'. * The common word in their respective meanings ('winter is cold' and 'summer is hot') is 'is'. * Therefore, 'nic' definitively represents 'is'. 2. **Further decoding for completeness and to analyze other options:** * **Compare (I) and (III):** The common code word is 'pic', and the common meaning is 'winter'. So, 'pic' = 'winter'. * **Compare (I) and (IV):** The common code word is 'vic', and the common meaning is 'cold'. So, 'vic' = 'cold'. * From (I), we now have 'pic' = 'winter', 'vic' = 'cold', 'nic' = 'is'. This correctly decodes 'winter is cold'. * From (II), 'tic nic ric' = 'summer is hot'. Since 'nic' = 'is', we deduce 'tic ric' = 'summer hot'. * From (III), 'ric pic bic' = 'winter and summer'. Since 'pic' = 'winter', we deduce 'ric bic' = 'and summer'. * Comparing 'tic ric' = 'summer hot' and 'ric bic' = 'and summer', the common code word is 'ric', and the common meaning is 'summer'. So, 'ric' = 'summer'. * This implies 'tic' = 'hot' (from 'tic ric' = 'summer hot'). * And 'bic' = 'and' (from 'ric bic' = 'and summer'). **Analysis of Options:** * **Option (A) winter:** Incorrect. 'winter' is represented by 'pic', not 'nic'. * **Option (B) summer:** Incorrect. 'summer' is represented by 'ric', not 'nic'. * **Option (C) hot:** Incorrect. 'hot' is represented by 'tic', not 'nic'. * **Option (D) is:** Correct. As derived from the comparison of statements (I) and (II), 'nic' represents 'is'.