Final answer:
The term mutilated typically means that something has been damaged severely, often in a violent manner, leaving it in pieces or disfigured.
Step-by-step explanation:
In context, mutilated means to inflict serious damage on something, typically with the idea of cutting, tearing, or altering it in a way that ruins its integrity or function. Of the options provided, b) In pieces most closely aligns with this definition. The term can refer to the act of disfiguring or damaging an object or being beyond normal repair, and it often suggests violence or destructive action that leaves the subject in a state of disrepair or fragmentation.
For example, in literature, a character might describe a letter they received that was mutilated in the mail, meaning it arrived torn and in pieces. Similarly, in a historical context, a document or artifact might be described as mutilated if it has been partially destroyed and its original form has been significantly altered.