I am very puzzled ____ this Use of English question.

I am very puzzled ____ this Use of English question.

• A. in
• B. about
• C. by
• D. at

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is which preposition follows the adjective puzzled to show what causes the confusion. In English, you commonly say “puzzled by something” when that thing perplexes you. So “I am very puzzled by this Use of English question” expresses that the question is the source of your confusion. The other prepositions aren’t natural in this exact expression: “in” isn’t used to mark what causes puzzlement, and “at” is not the usual way to convey the source of confusion here. “About” can sometimes fit with being puzzled, but it tends to shift the focus to what you’re puzzled regarding in a broader sense, rather than what specifically is causing the puzzlement.

The main idea here is which preposition follows the adjective puzzled to show what causes the confusion. In English, you commonly say “puzzled by something” when that thing perplexes you. So “I am very puzzled by this Use of English question” expresses that the question is the source of your confusion.

The other prepositions aren’t natural in this exact expression: “in” isn’t used to mark what causes puzzlement, and “at” is not the usual way to convey the source of confusion here. “About” can sometimes fit with being puzzled, but it tends to shift the focus to what you’re puzzled regarding in a broader sense, rather than what specifically is causing the puzzlement.