Final answer:
The correct word to complete the sentence about Artie, who is afraid of snakes but doesn't scream when he sees one, is 'nevertheless', showing contrast between his fear and his reaction. The correct option to complete the sentence is 'C. nevertheless'.
Step-by-step explanation:
The sentence 'Artie is scared of snakes; ____, he didn't scream when he saw one cross his path.' is looking for a word that will show contrast between Artie's fear and his reaction. The correct option to complete this sentence is 'nevertheless', which is a transitional word used to indicate a contrast or exception to what has just been stated. Thus, the complete sentence should read: 'Artie is scared of snakes; nevertheless, he didn't scream when he saw one cross his path.'
Using 'nevertheless' in the sentence aligns with the idea that even though Artie has a feeling of fear towards snakes, he was able to control his reaction when encountering one. This ties into the hypothesis mentioned that a person might not feel fear if they are unaware of the physiological arousal caused by the sight of a snake. The passage also illustrates a scenario in which a character confronts an unfamiliar animal, initially reacting with fear, which is eventually tempered by curiosity and a rational observation that the animal is not as threatening as first assumed.