Which one of the following is caused when a light wave of a given frequency strikes a material with a molecular structure of the same frequency, converting light energy into heat as it interacts with the material?

The phenomenon described in the question involves a light wave interacting with a material whose molecular structure matches the frequency of the light. This interaction is known as absorption. When the frequency of the light wave aligns with the natural frequency of the molecules in the material, the light energy is transformed into thermal energy, leading to an increase in temperature of the material.

This process differs significantly from transmission, which involves the passage of light through a material without being absorbed. Reflection refers to the bouncing back of light when it hits a surface, and refraction involves the bending of light as it passes from one medium to another with a different density. Since the scenario centers on the conversion of light energy into heat due to matching frequencies, absorption is clearly the correct and relevant process at play here.