Answer:
A. They only accept risky investments that offer risk premiums over the risk-free rate.
Step-by-step explanation:
A risk-averse investor would only accept a risky investment if there is some sort of compensation for taking said risk (besides the possibility of earning a higher return).
The problem with the higher returns, is that they are a possiblity, not something that is bound to happen. Therefore, the risk-averse investor needs a safe risk premium that is paid to him whether the returns are attained or not.