The core concept here is understanding synonyms in context. 'Attributed' in this context means to assign a quality or characteristic to someone or something. - **A. denied:** 'Denied' means to refuse to admit the truth or existence of something, which is the opposite of attribution. - **B. assigned:** 'Assigned' means to allocate or designate something to someone or something, which closely matches the meaning of 'attributed'. This is the correct option. - **C. neglected:** 'Neglected' means to fail to care for properly, which has no relation to attribution. - **D. doubted:** 'Doubted' means to feel uncertain about something, which also doesn't fit the context. The key to selecting the correct answer is that 'attributed' implies giving credit to or assigning to, making 'assigned' the most appropriate synonym.