Final answer:
Irving's word choice in this passage creates a sense of nervousness in the narrator and emphasizes the effect of the painting on the narrator.
Step-by-step explanation:
In this passage, Irving's word choice creates a sense of nervousness and anxiety in the narrator. The use of words like 'vile,' 'fit,' 'conquered,' and 'incubus of utterly causeless alarm' conveys the intensity of the narrator's feelings. This word choice helps to show the effect that the painting has on the narrator and emphasizes the significance of the nervous fit. The correct answer is option (a) It shows how nervous the painting makes the narrator.