Answer: A. failure
"Distraught" means "bewildered" or "deeply agitated." On the other hand, "affliction" refers to "something that may cause pain or suffering." Therefore, we know that a person is distraught because of an affliction. On the other hand, "sullen" means in a bad mood. "Failure" is the word that fits the best, as a person is more likely to be sullen because of a failure than because any of the other options.
