<span>The word pungent refers to the pickles' scent. Pungent is an adjective that describes something with a very sharp or distinct smell. In this excerpt the pickles must have a very strong smell that stands out from the rest of the environment. Thus, they smell pungent.</span>
In the excerpt, the word "pungent" refers to the pickles' aroma. Pungent is a word to describe a very strong smell, very sharp and biting. So when Untermeyer used the word pungent to refer to the pickles, he was talking about their aroma, which is a fancy way to say smell.
The use of on the other hand, also, and in other words, are c. They transition to another thought. These words are usually used in transitioning sentences to begin a new thought!
