In the following question, out of the four alternatives, select the alternative which is the best one-word substitute for the description "annoyed or irritated and quick to take offence at petty things".

Introduction / Context:
One word substitution questions require you to match a detailed description or phrase to a single, precise English word. Here, the phrase describes someone who is "annoyed or irritated and quick to take offence at petty things." This is a personality description, focusing on oversensitivity and touchiness, rather than on calming or soothing behaviour. The goal is to pick the word that naturally labels such a person.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Phrase to substitute: "Annoyed or irritated and quick to take offence at petty things."
• Options: Appease, Mollify, Huffy, Soothe.
• The correct choice must describe a person's emotional tendency, not an action performed on others.
• The tone suggests irritability, sensitivity, and readiness to feel insulted.

Concept / Approach:
The adjective huffy in English describes someone who becomes annoyed or offended easily, often about small matters. It is almost a direct shorthand for the given phrase. The other words—appease, mollify, soothe—are verbs that describe calming someone down or making them less angry; they do not describe the touchy person himself or herself. Therefore huffy is the only option that functions as a one-word substitute for the whole description.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Focus on the key idea in the phrase: a person who is irritable and quickly offended by trivial things. Step 2: Examine "Huffy." This adjective means easily offended, sulky, or quick to take offence, matching the description well. Step 3: Examine "Appease." This is a verb meaning to pacify or placate someone, often by giving in to their demands; it describes an action, not a personality type. Step 4: Examine "Mollify." This verb means to soften someone's anger or anxiety. Again, it describes what you do to someone, not what they are like. Step 5: Examine "Soothe." This verb means to calm or relieve pain, stress, or irritation. It also describes an action, not the oversensitive person. Step 6: Conclude that "Huffy" is the only adjective that summarises the phrase about a person's tendency to get easily upset over small things.

Verification / Alternative check:
Consider example sentences: "He gets huffy over the smallest criticism," or "She became huffy when her idea was not immediately accepted." In both, huffy clearly refers to someone who is annoyed and quick to take offence. By contrast, sentences such as "They tried to appease him" or "She mollified the angry crowd" show that appease and mollify are actions you perform on others, not labels for a touchy person.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
"Appease" is wrong because it means to calm or soothe another person, often someone who is already angry. "Mollify" is wrong for the same reason; it means to ease someone's anger. "Soothe" is wrong because it means to comfort or relieve, not to become offended oneself. None of these words describe being annoyed and quick to take offence; they describe reducing those feelings.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes pick verbs like appease or mollify simply because they associate them with anger and emotion, without checking whether the word describes the angry person or the action taken to calm them. Another pitfall is being unfamiliar with huffy and assuming that a more common word must be correct. Building a broader vocabulary through reading will make you more comfortable with slightly less common adjectives like huffy.

Final Answer:
The best one-word substitute is Huffy.