Read this passage from “The Ends of the World as We Know Them”:
On the other hand, the British in the 1950s faced up to the painful reappraisal of their former status as rulers of the world empire set apart from Europe.
Which of the following replacements of “painful” would increase Diamond’s appeal to pathos?
A. Unpleasant
B. Troublesome
C. Excruciating
D. Unfortunate
