In the following question, select the option that best expresses the meaning of the word “Surly”.

Introduction:
This synonym question focuses on the adjective surly, a useful word for describing people's attitudes and behaviour. Surly is commonly used in literature, news reports, and everyday descriptions to indicate a bad tempered, rude, or unwelcoming manner. Knowing its meaning helps readers interpret character descriptions and understand emotional tones in written and spoken English.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- Target word: Surly. - Options: Sweet, Unfriendly, Clear, Pleasant. - We require the option that closely matches the negative, bad tempered sense of surly. - The other options are neutral or positive in tone.

Concept / Approach:
Surly means rude, unfriendly, and ill humoured. It describes a person who is not welcoming and often behaves in a gruff or hostile way. Among the options, unfriendly clearly has a negative meaning that aligns with this sense. Sweet and pleasant describe kind, agreeable behaviour, while clear has no direct connection with moods or manners. Therefore, unfriendly is the closest synonym.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that surly is used when someone behaves in a rude or bad tempered fashion, for example a surly waiter or surly driver. Step 2: Compare this meaning with the word unfriendly, which refers to someone who is not warm, kind, or welcoming. Step 3: Notice that sweet and pleasant both suggest positive, gentle behaviour, opposite of surly. Step 4: Observe that clear does not relate to personality or mood at all. Step 5: Select unfriendly as the word that best captures the sense of surly.

Verification / Alternative check:
Example sentences such as The guard gave us a surly glance or His surly reply ended the conversation early show a cold or hostile attitude. Replacing surly with unfriendly keeps the meaning intact. If we try sweet or pleasant, the tone changes completely to a positive description, confirming that they cannot be synonyms.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Sweet describes a kind, gentle, or lovable nature, which contradicts the negativity of surly. Pleasant similarly refers to someone or something enjoyable and agreeable. Clear usually relates to understanding, visibility, or clarity of sound and does not describe personality. Only unfriendly shares the negative interpersonal tone of the target word.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes overlook emotional tone when choosing synonyms and focus only on general familiarity. It is important to think about whether the original word is positive, negative, or neutral and then match this with the options. Grouping vocabulary into positive and negative categories while studying can make such questions easier in exams.

Final Answer:
Unfriendly is the correct synonym for surly in this question.