The sense of the blanks implies that the tasks were difficult or tiring (or something of the like). The second blank implies that such energy was not well spent (particularly because of the key word "however").

The most tempting answers are "gargantuan . . . stunning", "heroic . . . significant," and "multitude . . . surprising"; however, in both cases, the second word does not match the negative sense implied by the "however."  

"Strenuous, frivolous" best captures the sense of these two blanks.

For the first blank, it is key to note the intensification implied from the first clause to the second one. The second blank aims to describe the style of politics. If you note both of these clues, you might be tempted to choose "extravagant . . . sacrosanct"; however, "sacrosanct" really indicates holiness. Don't be tricked by this kind of surface-level proximity to "churchmen." Also, "extravagant" is a bit weak for the purpose of intensifying the notion of complexity (though it could work if no better options were available). There is a better option, however: "labyrinthine . . . ecclesiastical."

Since this sentence focuses merely on Aaron’s ability to cheer others, the best option will be that one which describes him in terms of cheerfulness and contrasts that with those who are not so cheerful. When someone is “jovial,” he or she is cheerful. The word comes from the description of Jove / Jupiter in Roman mythology. A person born under the influence of the planet Jupiter was believed to exhibit the cheerful personality characteristic of the God with the same name. For whatever one might say about the source of this word, it has stuck in English usage, though Jove has been left far behind. When someone is “sullen,” he or she is gloomy or bad tempered.

Because we know that the forecast predicted snow storms, we can infer that it also predicted cold weather. So, we need to pick out an answer choice for the first blank that means something like "cold." Either "frigid," "chilly," or "icy" could be potentially correct. For the second blank, we need to pick out a word that describes the action of wearing a scarf, hat, and mittens if one knows the weather is going to be cold and snowy. Since wearing those items is a good idea, either "smart," "necessary," or "prudent" ("acting with or showing care and thought for the future") could be potentially correct. Of the possible words that we've identified as potentially correct for each blank, only "frigid" and "prudent" appear in the same answer choice, so the correct answer is "frigid . . . prudent."

For the first blank, we need to pick out an adjective that means something like "involving individual opinions and personal feelings." So, either "subjective" (" based on or influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or opinions") or "qualitative" ("relating to, measuring, or measured by the quality of something rather than its quantity") could be potentially correct. For the second blank, we need to pick out an adjective that means something like "based on facts, theories, and laws." Either "objective" ("not influenced by personal feelings or opinions in considering and representing facts") or "quantitative" ("relating to, measuring, or measured by the quantity of something rather than its quality") could be potentially correct. Of the possible words that we've identified as potentially correct for each blank, only "subjective" and "objective" appear in the same answer choice in the correct order, so the correct answer is "subjective . . . objective."

We can infer that because "many people [are] choosing to install fake, manmade grass," we need to pick out a combination of words that either means "real lawns have become rare" or "fake lawns have become common." While "artificial" and "manufactured" are both similar in meaning to "fake" and "manmade," only "artificial" lines up with a word for the second blank that means "common" - "commonplace." "Manufactured" lines up with "uncommon," so it can't be the answer, because if many people are installing fake lawns, manufactured lawns cannot be uncommon. Similarly, "authentic . . . pedestrian" cannot be the correct answer either, because if many people are installing fake grass, authentic lawns are not likely in the process of becoming "pedestrian," or commonplace. The correct answer is "artificial . . . commonplace" because it best fits the context of the sentence.

In this question, there are more possibilities for the blanks: the teacher can use popular themes to deliver a new curriculum, or classical themes to deliver a classical curriculum, etc. Here only "apposite" and "au courant" match with each other; "apposite" means appropriate while "au courant" refers to something up-to-date. "Canonical" and "prosaic" are valid options for the first blank, but do not have an adequate matching word for the second blank. Be careful of similar sounding words with completely different meanings: apposite / opposite, opprobrious / appropriate.

To be "gregarious" means to be social and to enjoy companionship. To be "loquacious" is to be talkative. In this case, it makes sense that a gregarious, social person would be talkative.

Considering the first blank, we know that Harry "hadn't expected to place in the top five" in the Science Fair, but ended up "com[ing] in second," so we can infer that Harry was very happy about this and that we need to pick out an adjective to describe him that means something like "very happy." Either "euphoric" ("characterized by or feeling intense excitement and happiness") or "ecstatic" ("feeling or expressing overwhelming happiness or joyful excitement") could be correct. For the second blank, we know that George "had expected to win first prize" but "came in fourth," so we can infer that he wasn't so happy with that turnout. So, we need to pick out another word that means something like "happy." Either "gleeful" ("exuberantly or triumphantly joyful") or "pleased" ("feeling or showing pleasure and satisfaction, especially at an event or a situation") could be correct. Of the possible words that we've identified as potentially correct for each blank, only "euphoric" and "gleeful" appear in the same answer choice, so the correct answer is "euphoric . . . gleeful."

For the first blank, we can infer that because Sally's dress "involved feathers, fringe, sequins and a long train," we need to pick out a word that means something like "complex" or "conspicuous." Neither "simple" or "demure" can be correct, because they are antonyms of "complex" and "conspicuous," but either "flamboyant" (when describing clothing, "noticeable because brightly colored, highly patterned, or unusual in style") or "ostentatious" ("characterized by vulgar or pretentious display; designed to impress or attract notice") could be potentially correct. For the second blank, we can infer that we need to pick out a word that means something like "eventually agreed"; either "admitted" or "conceded" ("admitted that something is true or valid after first denying or resisting it") could be potentially correct. Of the possible words that we've identified as potentially correct for each blank, only "flamboyant" and "conceded" appear in the same answer choice, so the correct answer is "flamboyant . . . conceded."