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The correct response identifies an arc as a portion of the circumference of a circle that connects two distinct points on the circle. An arc represents a curved line segment that naturally forms part of the circle itself, and the two points at the ends of the arc lie along the boundary of the circle.

In contrast, a chord is a straight line segment that directly connects those same two points but does not necessarily follow the curve of the circle. The diameter is a specific type of chord that passes through the center of the circle, effectively being the longest possible chord. A tangent, on the other hand, is a straight line that touches the circle at exactly one point, without intersecting it.

Understanding these definitions clarifies the distinguishing characteristics of each term and highlights why an arc specifically refers to the curved segment connecting two points on the circle's outline.