Step 1: Analyze the context of the sentence.
The sentence is structured to show:
- Arun was perceived negatively by others (first blank).
- Despite that, the club members decided to honor him (second blank).
- He is described physically with noticeable skin features (third blank).
- The event was meant to bring happiness to his father (fourth blank).
Step 2: Meaning of key words.
-
Feckless: lacking initiative, weak, irresponsible — negative perception.
-
Felicitate: to congratulate or honor someone — fits the action by club members.
-
Freckles: small brownish skin patches — matches Arun’s physical description.
-
Felicific: promoting happiness or increased well-being — fits the purpose for Arun’s father.
Step 3: Elimination of wrong options.
- (A) “felon” (criminal) does not fit the tone. Incorrect.
- (B) “feral” (wild) and “facilitate” (to make easy) do not fit the intended meaning of honor. Incorrect.
- (C) “federate” (unite politically) is irrelevant, “feral” misplaced. Incorrect.
- (D) “febrile” (feverish) is illogical in this context. Incorrect.
- (E) All words fit perfectly in order. Correct.
Step 4: Final sentence with correct words.
In spite of being perceived as
feckless by all, the club members decided to
felicitate Arun, a skinny teenager with prominent
freckles, as the member of the year, so that the whole affair would be
felicific to Arun’s father who was recuperating after a serious illness.
\[
\boxed{\text{Answer: E (feckless, felicitate, freckles, felicific)}}
\]