"Ebullience" means enthusiasm and positivity. An "elegy" is a mournful poem or song about a dead person. "Cynicism" and "tirade" are the closest wrong answers, but a "tirade" doesn't demand a mournful tone.

"Grandiloquence" is pompousness in speech. "Tenacity" is persistence in a task in the face of adversity. "Quiescence" and "acumen" are grammatically correct in this sentence, but "grandiloquence" fits better because it suggests speaking, while "quiescence" suggests silence. 

You might know that an “albatross” is a big sea bird, but did you also know it can refer to a moral or emotional burden? Either way, it does not fit the context. “Affluence” means wealth or abundance. A “catalyst” is something that brings about action or change. “Affluence . . . catalyst” is the correct answer.

A “layman” has only a small amount of knowledge on a subject, so this doesn’t describe the person in the sentence. An "aficionado" is a devoted fan who makes it their business to research a particular area of interest. An “anachronism” is something out of place in time. “Aficionado . . . anachronisms” is the correct answer.

An “epidemic” is a widespread outbreak of a disease. A “pandemic” is an epidemic over an even broader area. “Agglomeration” refers to a jumbled mass of different parts. “Agglomeration . . . pandemic” is the best answer.

“Expanse” refers to uninterrupted space, so it isn’t really the word we are looking for. An “alcove” is a recess adjacent to a larger room. It can be a chapel in a church, or a small nook in a bedroom. A “partition” is something that divides space (in this case, a half wall). “Partition . . . alcove” is the correct answer.

A “vagabond” is a person who wanders from place to place. It doesn’t exactly mean beggar, but it’s a possible solution. A “panhandler” is a beggar who solicits people on the street for money or goods. “Alms” refers to money or goods given to the poor. It is not used so much today; however, given the historical context indicated by “forefather,” it fits just right. “Panhandler . . . alms” is the best answer.

When you first read this sentence, the general meaning that you should get from it is that the floor requires careful planning and measurement so that the pieces all fit together. This planning allows for the correct layout so that everything fits together well. The word "calibration" expresses the general idea of planning or measurement. To "calibrate" something is to adjust it so that it takes into account all of the various measurements needed for a given task. "Configuration" is a good synonym for "layout" and, hence, is a good option for the second blank.

For this sentence, the most general meaning will be the best for the first blank. The word "detritus" means waste in a general sense. Sometimes, the word is used to describe the leftover waste created when things decompose; however it can have the general meaning of "waste." Really we know little else about the porch than that it was filled with something. Given that cleaning is going on, it is likely that it is waste. Apparently, it needs to be removed before more materials could be removed. Hence, the simple word "disposal" works well for this end.

The first blank in this sentence is a synonym for "ancestors." Thus, the simple word "forbears" is the best option provided. Several of the other options deal with particular kinds of authority figures; however, none of these are really appropriate for this particular question. The sentence doesn't even deal with authority figures in an explicit manner. It is merely looking for the generic notion of being an ancestor.

For the second blank, there are two options that would work. On the one hand a synonym of "alteration" would express well enough the fact that there has been little change or alteration in esteem for ancestors. None of the options provided express this meaning. The second option that would work is a synonym for "decrease." For this, "diminution" works well. This word has the root "-min-" in it, coming from the Latin for small or less. It is found in words like "miniature" and "minus."