A few answer choices could work in the sentence, so the task with this question is to find the best choice.  The second clause in the sentence makes clear the story "as it was printed" was wrong or misleading.  "Retraction," meaning a withdrawal or cancellation of an article or statement, is the choice that best completes the sentence.

The key phrase in the sentence is "overcoming a great deal."  The correct answer choice will have a definition tied to that phrase.  "Adversity," which means hardship and struggle, is the correct answer.

The structure of the sentence indicates the teenager saw himself quite differently than all the people at the show. The answer should stand in opposition to the notion of a "true punk." "Poseur," which means a person who puts on a false persona, is the correct answer.

The "newer and different details" are the best clue to the correct answer for this sentence. The addition of details to a story makes it less realistic and more exaggerated. Of all the answer choices, only "hyperbole," meaning grossly exaggerated, fits the sentence.

The structure of the sentence indicates that the woman kept her "childhood faith" when her friends did not. The correct answer will show that the subject is staying in her religion and upholding its values. "Bastion," meaning a fortress or a defense, is correct, being used here metaphorically.

What the addition of "many different activists" did to the gathering was make it extremely large and confusing; therefore, "conflagration," which literally means a big fire, but here refers to a large, out of control crowd, is the correct choice.

The sentence is very clear that the protesters built something to stand in for the President.  Many of the answer choices could fit that definition, but the best fit needs to be found. "Effigy," which specifically means a model of a person, is the correct answer.

The sentence says the hiker was not injured "too seriously," but merely had the injury described by the missing word. The correct answer will be a minor harm. "Contusion," meaning a bruise or welt, is the best fit among the answer choices.

We know that the word in the blank refers back to the con man's habits of swearing to himself and being vain. These are negative traits, so we know the answer can't be "charms." The only remaining choices that have negative connotations are "vices" and "peccadilloes," and since being vain and swearing to oneself are relatively small shortcomings, the correct answer is "peccadilloes"—"small, relatively unimportant offenses or sins."

We're looking for a noun that describes someone who dabbles in many artistic hobbies. While "connoisseur" may sound like a likely option, the word actually means an expert judge in matters of taste, so it's not quite what we're looking for. "Dilettante," on the other hand, refers to a person who cultivates an area of interest, such as the arts, without real commitment or knowledge, and is the correct answer.