Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank.
Literature does not exist only to provoke feelings of happiness or to __________ us with its pleasure; it should also challenge and perturb us.

Correct option is C

The correct option to fill in the blank is (c) cloy.
Explanation: “Cloy” means to over-satisfy or fill with too much sweetness or sentimentality, which fits well with “pleasure.” The sentence contrasts enjoyment with deeper disturbance or thought provocation, making “cloy” appropriate.
Cloy (verb): to become distasteful or sickening through excess (अधिक मिठास या सुख से ऊब जाना)
Example: The dessert was so sweet that it began to cloy the senses.
Meanings of other options:
· (a) reconcile: Restore friendly relations. (मेल करना)
· (b) trouble: To disturb mentally or physically. (परेशान करना)
· (d) placate: To calm or soothe anger. (शांत करना)