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."

The first blank requires an adjective that would lead to “a decrease in viewership.” “Congenial” does not fit. “Pusillanimous,” which means cowardly, is also not a suitable fit, since proving his ambition is mentioned shortly thereafter. To overcome the critics, he needs to be resilient. “Abrasive . . . resilient” is the correct answer.

At first glance, “eccentric” or “outlandish” might look like suitable fits for the second blank. However, we must consider how it fits in the context of all the information given. Since she “enjoys harvesting,” it is logical to assume that the resources of the land are abundant. It can then be inferred that these resources have prepared her for winter, in which case she would have an optimistic outlook. “Prodigious . . . sanguine” is the most correct answer.

The part after the semicolon describes what should fit into the first blank. Two researchers have differing opinions, this leads us to believe the first blank will mean confusing or ambiguous, perhaps even doubtful. For the second blank, we have a shift where the findings are described as "compelling." Look for words that mean the opposite of compelling. “Equivocal . . . conjectural” combine to form the correct answer.

The doctor’s methods were indeed interesting, as the sentence states. The fact that they are both new and questionable at least hints that they believed his methods to be a bit outside of the bounds of common practice. Whenever something is “orthodox,” it is part of the overall accepted scheme of a given discipline or social institution. Often, we think of the contrast of “orthodoxy” and “heresy” in religious matters. There can, however, be “orthodoxies” in many fields—things that are taken for granted as part of the status quo. 

Now, it makes sense to call the doctor’s methods (as described, at least) “unorthodox.” The implication is that they are either not dangerous or, perhaps, not illegal. The second meaning is what works for the second blank, for “illicit” means against the law. Something that is “licit” is something lawful. The sentence states that his methods were not illicit, even if they did seem to be questionable.

The first blank for this sentence clearly needs to be something negative. In the second independent clause (after the "for"), it is indicated that the action was, in fact, neither intentional nor very harmful. The sentence is basically saying that if you were to say it was some kind of harmful action, it was only harmful in a limited sense. The word "malicious" is the only one that is negative in this manner. True, something that is "tragic" is also negative, but we usually talk about malicious actions as being done by someone, whereas tragic things happen to someone.  To say that something is "attenuated" means that it holds in a limited sense or manner. This word is related to "tenuous" meaning weak (and thin), as in the expression, "The death was connected only in a very tenuous manner to the injury."

This sentence focuses on Mark's ability to speak. This should give you a preference for options that pertain to speaking skills. Eloquence is just such a word, describing someone who can speak very well. (It is related to numerous other words that derive from the Latin word for to speak, "loqui." Related derivatives are "locution," "elocution," and "colloquial.") The word "prodigious" means to a great degree or of a very large extent. This seems to describe well the large crowds that are hinted to have gathered for Mark's speeches.

The best clue for the first blank in this sentence is the fact that the scholar seems to specialize in the history of the Catholic church—at least as far as we can tell from this sentence. Now, this might lead you to pick "religious" or "pious" since the Catholic church is a religious institution, but what is is more proper is to say that the historian is an "ecclesiastical" historian. This literally means that she was a church historian. ("Ecclesiastical" comes from the Latin ecclesia, meaning gathering or, in later medieval Latin, church.) This is a much closer description of her role. The apparent point is that she had to research non-ecclesiastical matters. The best option for this is "secular," which means of the world. Another option would have been "profane," though that word really is the opposite of holy.

The easier blank to fill is the second one. Something that makes people fall asleep is a "soporific" agent. This word comes from the combination of the Latin root "sopor," meaning deep sleep, and the "-fy" suffix that means to do or to make. Something that is "stupefying" is something that makes it difficult to be fully conscious. It is not so much about being "stupid" as it is about not being in control of one's senses.