OE

The key to this question is the context key word "surprised." Since Nigel is typically a model of "equanimity" (calm), the correct answer choices, describing surprising behavior on his part, must mean something like "unsettled." Choices (C) testy, "irritable," and (E) discomposed, "out of sorts," create sentences that indicate that Nigel lost his cool and failed to remain calm. These are the correct answers. You can eliminate (A) staid, (B) equanimous, and (D) placid, as those are all synonyms for "calm," from which the sentence detours. Choice (F) jubilant, "overjoyed," can also be rejected; although excessive joy does depart from "calm," no other word in the answer choices would create an equivalent sentence.