During which step of a gas-operated firearm does the bolt pass over the top cartridge in the magazine?

The feeding step in a gas-operated firearm is crucial for the loading process of a cartridge into the chamber. In this phase, the bolt moves forward and interacts with the cartridge situated in the magazine. When the bolt advances, it pushes the top cartridge out of the magazine and into the chamber. This movement is essential for the firearm to be operational, as the cartridge must be correctly positioned in the chamber for firing to occur.

During this process, the bolt does indeed pass over the top cartridge, which is why feeding is the correct answer. Without proper feeding, the subsequent steps of locking, extracting, and ejecting cannot happen, as they rely on having a cartridge correctly fed into the chamber in the first place. Understanding the feeding mechanism is critical for troubleshooting and ensuring the reliable operation of gas-operated firearms.