The answer that best identifies the meaning of the italicized words in the order they appear is "harsh; very simple," as stated in option D and explained below.
What is the meaning of "stark"?
There are two italicized words in the sentence, but they are both the word "stark". We are supposed to identify its different meanings depending on what the context suggests.
First, the speaker uses "stark" to describe the situation - "stark reality". In this context, "stark" means harsh. The hikers still had to walk a long way, which was a harsh, difficult task.
Then, the speaker uses "stark" to describe the campground. In this context, the word means simple, not possessing any decoration or anything that is not necessary.
With the information above in mind, we can select option D as the correct answer.
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