Final answer:
Option 1 is correct.The 1st portion of an IP address identifies the network. It is used to locate and route traffic to the correct network, distinguishing it from the specific device portion of the address.
Step-by-step explanation:
In general, the 1st portion of each IP address identifies the network that the IP is part of. An IP address is a numeric identifier for a device on a TCP/IP network. Networks use the IP address to locate and distinguish devices and route traffic accordingly. An IP address is typically divided into two parts: the network prefix and the host identifier. The network prefix indicates the specific network on a larger network or the Internet, while the host identifier points to a specific device (such as a computer) on that network. Therefore, the correct answer to the question is 1) Network.
For example, in the IP address 192.168.0.1, the first portion '192.168' represents the network, while the last portion '0.1' identifies the specific computer.