The general's reputation for ______ leadership was well earned; even in the face of certain defeat, he refused to negotiate or retreat, choosing instead to fight to the last soldier.
Correct: B
Truculent means aggressively defiant and unwilling to compromise; it carries a stronger connotation of hostile defiance than the other words. Pugnacious means combative and eager to fight, bellicose means warlike and aggressive, and belligerent means hostile and aggressive — all three describe a general disposition toward aggression, but truculent uniquely captures the sense of defiant, unyielding stubbornness even when surrender would be logical.