Select the correct option:
While the proposal appeared pragmatic on paper, its implementation proved ________ complicated than expected.

Correct option is B

The correct option to fill in the blank is (b) more.
Explanation: The comparative structure requires “more … than” to show a higher degree relative to expectations. “Proved more complicated than expected” is the standard comparative idiom. (Hindi: अपेक्षा से अधिक जटिल)
Example: The rollout proved more complicated than expected due to integration issues.
Explain why other options are incorrect:
· (a) less: would state the opposite meaning (less complicated than expected) (Hindi: कम)
· (c) much: an intensifier; needs a comparative (much more/less), so alone it’s ungrammatical here (Hindi: बहुत/काफी)
· (d) rather: functions as a degree adverb but not with the than comparative frame here (Hindi: काफ़ी/कुछ हद तक)
Information booster (comparatives): With adjectives of two+ syllables, form comparatives using more/less + adjective + than; intensifiers like much/far/a lot can modify the comparative (e.g., much more complicated).