"Advance" is the opposite of "retreat," so therefore the opposite of "ascend" would be "descend," or to go down.

"Generous" and "miserly" are strong antonyms; therefore the opposite of "blameless" is "guilty."

"Hopeful" and "disillusioned" are antonyms, much like "aggressive" is the opposite of "passive."

Conflict is a state of disagreement and therefore lacks peace. The analogy could thus be reformulated, “As conflict is a state lacking peace, so is tranquility a state lacking X.” When things are tranquil, they are calm and free from disturbing events and acts. Tranquility is the state of such peace. Among the options provided, only “disturbance” provides an adequate description of what is lacking in tranquility.

The word “potable” comes from the Latin word for “to drink” or “drinkable.” This latter sense still is retained in the English, as the word “potable” means either “drinkable” or “safe to drink.”  When liquid is potable, it is free of any contamination. Thus, the analogy could be written, “As potable water lacks contaminants, so does something that is healthy lack X.” Among the options provided, only “disease” fits the needed sense of that which is lacking in someone who is healthy.

An irreligious person is either indifferent with regard to religion or hostile against it. Such a person likely shows little, that is, little reverence. The word “pious” can mean “dutiful” in a general sense, though the word is almost always used in the specific sense of “religiously dutiful.” The bridge sentence for this analogy could be written, “As someone irreligious lacks piety, so does someone who is languid lack X.”  The word “languid” can mean “relaxed” or “lazy-seeming” as well as “weak or faint.” Something that is languid lacks strength, which is the best option among those provided.

Think of the word “enervation” in the sense of “ex+nerves,” as though to say, “The strength of nerves has gone away (ex-).”  It means “the state of lacking energy.” Thus, the analogy could be written, “As the state of enervation is one of lacking energy, so is mendacity the state or characteristic of lacking X.” A mendacious person or thing is one that is deceptive. Thus, the best option is “truth,” for this is what something mendacious lacks.

When something is involuntary, it is done without the person explicitly willing to do it. For instance, someone’s hand could involuntarily jump upwards because of a nerve condition. The relationship between “consciousness” and “involuntary” could be patterned as one of lacking, as though to say, “As an involuntary action lacks consciousness, so someone who is irreproachable lacks X.” To “reproach” someone is to disapprove of that person’s actions. To be “irreproachable” is to be totally lacking of any reason for being disapproved in this manner. “Culpability” is the responsibility for some wrong—to be culpable is to be responsible. Thus, someone who is “irreproachable” lacks “culpability.”

A “potent” drug is one that is very strong. The “potent” root comes from the Latin for “able to do” or “powerful” as found in other English words like “potentate,” “potency,” and “potential.” Efficacy is the ability to produce a given result. (Think of it as meaning, “Able to produce a given effect”). Something that is impotent is lacking in efficacy. When someone dithers, he or she delays making a decision. Such a person could be said to lack “resolution,” which means “a firm resolve to do something.”

A discourteous person does not show courtesy or politeness. Thus, the analogy could be written as, “As someone who is discourteous is lacking in politeness, so is something nugatory lacking in X.” The word “nugatory” comes from the Latin for “trifles” or “small worthless things.” It is not the same as nougat, which is a tasty and nutty treat. Thus, something “nugatory” is merely trifling, that is lacking value.