The fact that water requires a large amount of energy before its temperature changes is the result of
water's
a. lower density as a solid.
b. ability to demonstrate capillarity.
c. ability to exhibit surface tension.
d. high specific heat.

high specific heat.

Explanation:

The specific heat is the heat change when one unit mass or volume of a substance undergoes a change in temperature of 1°C.

For example for water it requires 4.18 J or 1 cal of energy to heat one gram of it to change its temperature by  1°C.

Higher the specific heat more the energy required to change the temperature.

The specific heat of water is 4.18J/g°C or 1 cal/g°C.

It is high and thus water requires a large amount of energy before its temperature changes.