3. In wire rope the rope component that sup- ports the strands is the __ a. high-grade steel wire b. core c. center wire d. sling

## Step 1<br />In a wire rope, the core is the component that supports the strands. The core is typically made of high-grade steel wire, but it is not the core itself. The core is the central part of the wire rope that holds the strands together.<br />## Step 2<br />The center wire is a part of the core, but it is not the core itself. The center wire is the wire that runs through the center of the core.<br />## Step 3<br />The sling is a type of equipment used to lift or move heavy objects, and it is not a component of the wire rope.<br />## Step 4<br />Therefore, the correct answer is option b, the core.