Select the most appropriate word to fill in the blank:
__________ she was partly deaf, she was a gifted pianist.

The correct answer is (b) although.
Explanation:
"Although" is used to introduce a contrast between two clauses. In this case, the contrast is between being partly deaf and being a gifted pianist. The sentence shows that despite her deafness, she excelled in playing the piano. None of the other conjunctions would logically fit this context.
Meanings of all options:
· Although: Used to introduce a statement that contrasts with the previous one.
· Until: Up to the point in time.
· Because: For the reason that.
· Yet: Still, or even so.
Correct sentence:
"Although she was partly deaf, she was a gifted pianist."