ExplanationWhat she heard disheartened the band director—and this despite having steeled herself for the worst—so you need a word that means bad-sounding. Both euphonious and harmonious are nearly the opposite of what you’re looking for, so eliminate choices (B) and (F).
Neither arduous, which means difficult, nor ample, which means sufficient, makes sense in the blank, so eliminate choices (A) and (D). Both cacophonous and discordant can mean bad-sounding, so choices (C) and (E) give you appropriate, equivalent sentences.
Hence options C and E are correct!
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