Choose the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word or phrase.
All the candidates looked aghast at the reading of the questions.
Answer Details
The best option nearest in meaning to the underlined word "aghast" is "dismayed". The sentence indicates that the candidates had a strong negative reaction to the reading of the questions, which suggests that they were shocked or alarmed. The word "dismayed" accurately captures this sense of distress and surprise. Therefore, the correct option is "dismayed".