Solution:Typical relative thermal conductivities (in W/cm °C) of these materials, from highest to lowest, are approximately:
(b) Au is largest (around 3 W/cm °C for pure gold).
(e) Common Cu Alloys, though lower than pure Cu, still rank next.
(a) Silicon is next (about 1.5 W/cm °С).
(d) Alumina (A1₂O₃) follows (a few × 10⁻³ W/cm °C).
(c) Epoxy with fused silica filler is the lowest (around 10⁻³ W/cm °C or less).
Hence, the descending order is (b), (e), (a), (d), (c), which matches option D.