ExplanationThe employee’s confident smile is hiding confusion, so something that means confused would make sense in the blank. Both placated and conciliated are nearly the opposite of what you’re looking for, so eliminate choices (C) and (E).
Neither vilified, which means defamed, nor belabored, which means excessively insisted upon, is supported by the sentence, so eliminate
choices (D) and (F). Both perturbed and discomposed can mean confused, so choices (A) and (B) give you appropriate, equivalent sentences.
Hence options A and B fits.
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