In the sentence below, there is one underlined word and one gap. From the list o...

In this question, you are given a sentence with an underlined word and a gap. You are asked to choose from the options (A to D) the word that is most opposite in meaning to the underlined word and that will correctly fill the gap in the sentence.

The underlined word in the sentence is "convicted". To convict someone means to declare them guilty of a crime after a trial. The question is asking you to choose the word that means the opposite of "convicted".

The sentence also tells us that the Magistrate convicted a hardened criminal but left a first offender. To leave someone means to not punish them or to not take any action against them. So, you need to choose the word from the options that is most opposite in meaning to "convicted" and that will fit in the gap to complete the sentence correctly.

Option A is "acquitted", which means to declare someone not guilty of a crime. This is the correct answer because it is the most opposite in meaning to "convicted" and it correctly fills the gap in the sentence.

Option B is "jailed", which means to put someone in prison. This is not the correct answer because it has a similar meaning to "convicted" and it does not fit in the gap to complete the sentence correctly.

Option C is "released", which means to set someone free from confinement. This is not the correct answer because it does not have an opposite meaning to "convicted" and it does not fit in the gap to complete the sentence correctly.

Option D is "sentenced", which means to give someone a punishment, usually involving time in prison. This is not the correct answer because it has a similar meaning to "convicted" and it does not fit in the gap to complete the sentence correctly.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option A, "acquitted".