Topic: Pair of Word,

Best Answer Explained in Below-:

The sentence "A troupe of __ has gone to entertain the soldiers" requires a noun that appropriately describes a group of performers. Let's analyze the options:

A) **Artists** - While "artists" refers to individuals engaged in creating art, it is a broad term that typically applies to visual artists like painters and sculptors rather than performers.

B) **Artistes** - This term specifically denotes performers, particularly those involved in theatrical, musical, or dance performances. It evokes a sense of flair and showmanship, making it highly suitable for the context of entertaining soldiers.

C) **Artifice** - This is not a plural noun and refers to clever or cunning devices used to deceive others, which does not fit the context of entertainers.

D) **Artisans** - Although artisans are skilled craftsmen who create functional products or artworks, like carpenters or jewelers, this term does not directly relate to performing arts.

Thus, the most fitting choice is **B) Artistes**, as it specifically conveys the notion of performers who entertain, aligning perfectly with the context of the sentence.