Identify the option that most appropriately combines both the given sentences into one sentence.
He wrote the exam with the utmost confidence. He was grossly underprepared for the examination.

Correct option is D

The correct option is (d) because "although" is the appropriate conjunction to express the contrast between his confidence and his underpreparedness. This sentence now clearly conveys that even though he wasn’t ready, he was still confident.
Option (a) implies a cause-and-effect relationship that is incorrect, option (b) is grammatically incorrect, and option (c) uses "nevertheless" in a way that doesn’t fit logically.