The choice that makes the most sense is "latent," undeveloped potential; hidden.

The choice that makes the most sense is "inured," accustomed or hardened, especially to something unpleasant.

The choice that makes the most sense is "officious," assertive and meddlesome in an annoying way; pushy in offering something.

The choice that makes the most sense is "soporific," tending to induce drowsiness or sleep.

Because we know that the residents of the area being described deal with two or three earthquakes "per year, every year," we know that earthquakes are a recurring problem in the state and need an adjective for the first blank that suggests this. We can discard "felicitous," which means well chosen or suited to the circumstances, as well as "ephemeral," (lasting for a very short time) "anomalous," (different from what is normal or expected) and "sporadic," (occurring at irregular intervals; having no pattern or order in time). We are left with the best answer choice, "perennial," which means lasting or existing for a long or apparently infinite time; enduring or continually recurring.

The sense of opposition in this sentence is indicated by the word "merely." Don't be tricked by this into some of the words such as "tedious" or even "blue-collar." The opposition is to "spiritual;" therefore, "mundane" is the best answer. Usually, this word is used in the sense of lacking interest or perhaps boring (or even tedious); however, its root is from the Latin "mundus" meaning world or universe. In English, this etymology is reflected in the extended meaning of "mundane" which signifies being earthly in distinction to heavenly or spiritual.

The subject avoids "unnecessary aesthetic details," so his furniture follows this pattern. The correct answer must indicate simplicity or a lack of finery. "Utilitarian," meaning useful and functional, is the best choice.

Because our subject "trip[s] over his own feet," we're looking for a word that means clumsy. While "gauche," "artless," and "maladroit" may initially all appear to be likely choices, "gauche" specifically refers to awkwardness of a social, not physical, variety, and "artless" actually means without guile or deception. So, the answer is "maladroit"—ineffective, bungling, or clumsy.

The sentence comments that the "new research" backed up arguments the academic "had been making for thirty years." This means the academic was supported or bolstered by the research, and the correct answer must reflect this fact. "Vindicated," meaning proved right or removed blame, is the best choice among the answers.

The word "although" is a clue that there is some contradiction between the speaker's characterization of the woman's actions and the speaker's contention of the woman's sentimentality. If the woman's actions were self-described as "empathetic," there would be no contradiction. The best choice in this case would be "pragmatic," which means focusing on practical results rather than principles or emotions.