Which word underwent amelioration?

• A. Nice
• B. Awful
• C. Literally
• D. Market

Answer: (A)

This question tests amelioration in word meaning: a semantic shift where a word’s sense moves toward a more positive one. Nice is a classic example because it began with a negative sense in older English—foolish or naive—and over time its meaning softened into something positive like pleasant, kind, or agreeable. That upward change is exactly what amelioration describes, so nice is the best choice. Awful, by contrast, shows pejoration—moving from something awe-inspiring to something terrible. Literally has taken on a newer, intensifying usage in everyday speech, which is a different kind of semantic move, not a clear positive shift. Market remains a fairly neutral term with no broad positive shift in connotation.