Question

read the excerpt from \the love song of j alfred prufrock.\
and the afternoon, the evening, sleeps so peacefully!
smoothed by long fingers,
asleep... tired... or it malingers,
stretched on the floor, here beside you and me.
should i, after tea and cakes and ices,
have the strength to force the moment to its crisis?
but though i have wept and fasted, wept and prayed,
though i have seen my head (grown slightly bald) brought in upon a platter,
i am no prophet—and heres no great matter;
which words best indicate that prufrock feels anxious?
head, platter, prophet
peacefully, smoothed, strength
wept, fasted, prayed
tea, cakes, ices

Explanation:

• "Wept" (cried), "fasted" (abstained from food), and "prayed" (sought divine help) are actions that suggest emotional distress and anxiety.
• "Head, platter, prophet" are more about imagery and self - perception rather than direct indicators of anxiety.
• "Peacefully, smoothed, strength" do not convey anxiety. "Peacefully" and "smoothed" suggest calmness, and "strength" is a more neutral or positive - connotation word in this context.
• "Tea, cakes, ices" are just items related to a social setting and do not indicate anxiety.

Answer:

wept, fasted, prayed