Opposite Adverb: Softly

To answer this question, we need to understand the meaning of the sentence and identify the opposite adverb that describes how the music was played. Let's break down the sentence and analyze the options given:

Sentence: He played the music very ______.

Options:
a) loudly
b) softly
c) melodiously
d) smoothly

Analysis:
The sentence implies that someone played the music in a certain manner, and we need to choose the opposite adverb to describe how it was played. Let's analyze each option:

a) loudly: This adverb describes playing the music with a high volume or intensity. It is not opposite to the blank space in the sentence, as it implies a similar manner of playing.

b) softly: This adverb describes playing the music with a low volume or intensity. It is the opposite of playing loudly and fits well in the given sentence.

c) melodiously: This adverb describes playing the music in a pleasant and tuneful manner. While it contrasts with playing in a harsh or discordant way, it does not directly oppose the blank space in the sentence.

d) smoothly: This adverb describes playing the music without any interruptions or jarring transitions. While it is an important quality of playing music, it does not directly oppose the blank space in the sentence.

Conclusion:
Among the given options, the opposite adverb that best fits the sentence and describes playing the music in a different manner is "softly". This choice implies playing the music with a low volume or intensity, contrasting with playing loudly.