Question

choose the word or words that best complete the sentence.
unlike the lighthearted ____ of her youth, rosalind’s adulthood proved to be full of frustration and constant ____.

○ moroseness__merriment
○ placidness__anxiety
○ insouciance__gregariousness
○ dejection__hyperbole

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze the context. The sentence contrasts Rosalind's youth and adulthood. "Lighthearted" needs a matching word for youth, and adulthood has "frustration" so the second word should fit that negative tone.

• Option 1: "moroseness" (gloomy) contradicts "lighthearted", and "merriment" (joy) is positive, not matching adulthood's frustration. Eliminate.
• Option 2: "placidness" (calm, carefree) matches "lighthearted" for youth. "Anxiety" (worry) fits the negative, frustrating adulthood. This works.
• Option 3: "insouciance" (carefree) matches youth, but "gregariousness" (sociable) is positive, not matching frustration. Eliminate.
• Option 4: "dejection" (sadness) contradicts "lighthearted", and "hyperbole" (exaggeration) is irrelevant. Eliminate.

Answer:

B. placidness... anxiety