The correct answer is A. pessimism.
Pessimism is a tendency to see the worst in things. It is a negative outlook on life that can lead to feelings of hopelessness and despair.
Prudence is the quality of being careful and cautious. It is the ability to make wise decisions and avoid taking unnecessary risks.
Sincerity is the quality of being honest and genuine. It is the ability to be truthful and authentic in one’s words and actions.
Petulance is the quality of being irritable and easily annoyed. It is the tendency to be quick to anger and to take offense at minor things.
In the given sentence, “She was surprised by his amiability,” the word “amiability” means “friendliness and pleasantness.” It is clear from the sentence that the woman was not expecting the man to be friendly and pleasant. This suggests that she had a negative view of him, or at least that she was not expecting him to be anything other than cold and unfriendly. This negative view is consistent with the definition of pessimism.
The other options are not consistent with the sentence. Prudence, sincerity, and petulance are all positive qualities, and they do not suggest that the woman had a negative view of the man.