In the following question, a part of the sentence is given in brackets. Choose the alternative that best improves the bracketed part: Neha was (surprised by) her result.

Introduction / Context:
This sentence improvement question tests your knowledge of correct preposition usage with the adjective surprised. Prepositions often form fixed combinations with certain adjectives and verbs in English, and exams frequently check whether you know these standard collocations.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Sentence: “Neha was (surprised by) her result.”
• Options: surprised to, surprised from, surprised at, No improvement.
• The subject is Neha and the cause of her feeling is “her result”.
• We must choose the preposition that naturally follows surprised when stating the thing causing the surprise.

Concept / Approach:
In standard English usage, we generally say surprised at or surprised by something, but in many exam patterns, surprised at is preferred when referring to an event, fact or result. The phrase “surprised at the result” is common. “Surprised to” is used before verbs (surprised to hear, surprised to see), not before a noun like result. “Surprised from” is incorrect. The original “surprised by her result” is understandable but the exam expects the more idiomatic form “surprised at her result”.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Identify the structure: be + surprised + preposition + noun.Note that the noun is “result”, an outcome or piece of news.“Surprised to” usually takes a verb (e.g., surprised to know), so it does not fit before a noun alone.“Surprised from” is not a standard combination in English.“Surprised at her result” is a widely accepted and idiomatic phrase meaning she felt surprised because of her result.

Verification / Alternative check:
Compare examples: “Surprised at the news” and “Surprised at the result” are standard phrases. While “surprised by the news” is also possible in general English, many exam keys prefer “surprised at” for a result or outcome. The aim is to test whether you know this common collocation, which occurs frequently in grammar practice books and test papers.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
“Surprised to her result” is grammatically incorrect because to does not connect an adjective and a noun in this way. “Surprised from her result” is not idiomatic and sounds unnatural. “No improvement” would keep “surprised by her result” which, although understandable, does not align with the expected textbook usage being tested here. The best and most exam appropriate improvement is “surprised at”.

Common Pitfalls:
Many learners use by and at interchangeably after surprised, which is often acceptable in conversation. However, competitive exams focus on standardised patterns. When surprised is followed by a noun that is an event or result, “surprised at” is a safe and often preferred choice. Remember also that “surprised to” should lead into a verb phrase, not directly into a noun.

Final Answer:
The correct improvement is surprised at, so the sentence becomes: “Neha was surprised at her result.”