What reaction did I have towards the contents of the letter?

The choice indicating that the contents of the letter surprised you captures the reaction of feeling taken aback or astonished by the information contained within it. This implies that the letter presented unexpected or noteworthy content that was not anticipated, leading to a strong emotional response associated with novelty or shock.

Surprise often leads to a mixture of curiosity and a need to process the new information, which can differ from feelings of excitement, fear, or intrigue. In those cases—excitement might indicate positive anticipation, fear would suggest a sense of threat, and intrigue implies a curiosity to learn more without the shock element present in surprise. Selecting the reaction of surprise indicates an immediate and powerful emotional response to the letter's content that set it apart from the other responses.