The blank requires an adjective to qualify the noun 'dockyard'. In options (a), (b), (c) and (d), 'frequent', 'earlier', 'familiar' (well-known from long or close association) and 'hardened' (having become or been made hard or harder) are contextually irrelevant, so they are negated. In option (e), 'adjacent' (next to or adjoining something else) and 'old' (made or built long ago) fit the context of the sentence and are also grammatically correct and thus can fill the blank.
Hence, the correct answer is option (e).
Note:
Qualifiers: A word or phrase that limits the meaning of another word or phrase or makes it less general. 'Adverbs' and 'adjectives' are qualifiers.
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