Concept: The question tests the ability to identify the word that is most nearly opposite in meaning to the underlined word, while also fitting grammatically and logically into the gap.
Explanation:The underlined word is "convicted".
To convict someone means to declare that person guilty of a crime in a court of law.
The sentence contrasts the treatment of the "hardened criminal" with that of the "first offender".
Therefore, the missing word must show the opposite action taken for the first offender.
The opposite of "convicted" is "acquitted", which means to officially declare that someone is not guilty of a crime.
Among the options, "acquitted" fits both the meaning and the structure of the sentence.
"Jailed", "released", and "sentenced" do not provide the correct opposite meaning in this legal context.
Answer: A. acquitted