He lives near a lonely . . . . . . . of countryside.

piece
length
stretch
section

The correct answer is C. stretch.

A stretch of countryside is a long, continuous area of countryside. It is often used to describe an area that is remote or sparsely populated.

The other options are not as accurate or appropriate. A piece of countryside is a smaller area of countryside, and a length of countryside is not a common phrase. A section of countryside is more general, and could refer to a variety of different areas, such as a section of forest or a section of farmland.

In the context of the sentence, “He lives near a lonely stretch of countryside,” the word “stretch” is the most accurate and appropriate word to use. It conveys the idea that the area is long and continuous, and that it is remote or sparsely populated.