The candidate _ when asked why he had left his last job; he did not want to admit that he had been dismissed.

Explanation

The correct answer is 'dissembled' because it means to conceal or disguise one's true feelings or intentions. In the context of the question, the candidate is trying to avoid admitting the truth about being dismissed. The other options are incorrect: 'demurred' suggests objection or hesitation, which doesn't align with the idea of concealing information; 'confided' implies sharing a secret, which is the opposite of concealing it; and 'rejoiced' implies a positive emotional response, which does not fit the situation described.