The correct answer is (a).
The number of literate men is 35% of the total population, which is 0.35 * 2,50,000 = 87,500.
The number of literate women is 33% of the total population, which is 0.33 * 2,50,000 = 82,500.
Therefore, there are 87,500 – 82,500 = 5,000 more literate men than literate women.
Option (b) is incorrect because it is the number of illiterate men.
Option (c) is incorrect because it is half of the difference between the number of literate men and the number of literate women.
Option (d) is incorrect because it is the number of illiterate women.