In the night sky, if you have a powerful enough telescope, a “nebula” will appear like a dusty body of heavenly matter, spread out over a region of space. It is like a “star mist.” (The word is derived from the Latin for mist.) When we speak of something being “nebulous,” we mean to indicate that it is hazy or indistinct. When applied metaphorically to human speech and thought, this indicates thoughts that are vague or not defined in an exact manner. Thus, the analogy could be written, “As something nebulous lacks definition, so does something inconsiderate lack X.” When someone is inconsiderate, he or she does not show much (if any) awareness for the needs and wants of others.

Likely, you know the term "nocturnal," which means active or functioning at nighttime.” The “noct-” comes from the Latin for night, which can be found in the expression “vernal equinox,” which means the spring equal-night. (When spring begins, the night and day last for equal amounts of time, hence the expression). The word “diurnal” means active or functioning during the day. It is an antonym for “nocturnal.” Thus, we are looking for a word that means the opposite of “cloying.” Although the word means sweet, it is often used in a metaphorical (and a somewhat negative) sense to mean sweet as in being overly emotional or sentimental. Thus, “unsentimental” is a good antonym for this word.

A neophyte is someone who is new to a discipline or subject, having little experience. The prefix “neo-” is taken from Greek, meaning new, as we see in words like “neologism” (newly coined word) and “neoscholastic” (a late-nineteenth- or early-twentieth-century philosopher trying to renew and bring back the old medieval scholastic tradition). The “-phyte” comes from “plant,” and you will likely encounter it in biological terms. Our bridge could be written, “As a neophyte lacks experience, so does someone who is dissolute lack X.” The word “dissolute” means lax with regard to morals. When you dissolve something, you pull apart the molecules so they can be placed “between” the molecules of water (or whatever is being used as a solvent). A dissolute person is “lax” or “loose” with regard to moral things—hence, “morals” is the best answer.

Someone who is “gauche” lacks social capacities and thus can be said to lack grace. Such a person is likely awkward in public, not knowing how to be subtle when he or she needs be or how to be polite in a tactful manner—though no harm is intended by their tactless actions. The bridge sentence could be constructed, “As someone who is gauche lacks grace, so does someone who is corrupt lack X.” A corrupt person is, among other things, likely to lack honesty—at least about reality itself, for he or she will try to twist and corrupt all things to his or her perverse will.

A vacuum is a space lacking matter. Thus, the analogy could be rewritten as, “Just a vacuum lacks matter, so does something unintelligible lack X.” When something is unintelligible, it makes little or no sense and cannot be understood. It could thus be said to lack meaning for someone trying to understand it.

When someone is neglectful, they do not care or provide care where it is needed. The analogy could be expressed as a lack: “As something neglectful lacks care, so does something adulterated lack X.” Although we use the term “adultery” to describe someone who has committed an act against marriage, the word “adulterate” comes from the Latin meaning to corrupt, in the sense of to ruin the purity of. We could adulterate a sample of water by adding foreign elements (and so forth). Thus, something that is adulterated lacks its appropriate purity.

To "spurn" someone is to reject that person completely. For instance, one could say, “Herbert spurned any contact with his poor relatives, for he thought them wholly worthless and unintelligent, unworthy of any time.” This is quite the opposite of “accept” and is thus an antonym to the latter. Thus, we are looking for an antonym of “hamper.” Now, you might use the word “hamper” in discussing a type of basket for storing dirty clothes; however, there is no such option among the words provided. (Even the case of “garbage” is not useful, as it is definitely not an antonym). The word “hamper” can also mean to obstruct or make difficult, as when one says, “Thomas decided to hamper the progress of the group by tying their legs together while they sleep. He did not want them to progress on the trip.” The best option among those given is thus “aid,” which is quite the opposite from obstructing or making difficult.

When something is "comprehensible," it is understandable. You likely use the word “comprehend,” which is a related form of the same root. When someone “comprehends” something, he or she “grasps” it completely. The word “apprehend” can mean to understand, though it usually means to grasp a hold of in the physical sense. They come from the same general root. We can say that “unintelligible” and “comprehensive” are antonyms, so we must look for an antonym for “jocund.” The word generally means cheerful. Among the options, do not be fooled by “angry.” A jocund person is probably not angry, but more appropriately are they said to be without humor or humorless. This is the better answer.

The word “immaculate” comes from the combination of the “i-” prefix used as a privation (i.e. not) to the root which means stained, spotted, or dirty. Thus, the word means not stained, and generally is used to mean completely clean. Thus, the analogy could be rewritten, “Just as something immaculate lacks any dirt, so does something innocent have no X.” An innocent person lacks guilt, which is the best answer among those provided.

The word “defensible” can be thought of as meaning something like defendable, though it specifically means able to be justified. For instance, we would speak of “a defensible thesis,” meaning thereby that some argument is coherent and able to be defended against objections. When something is “tenable,” it is able to be “held” against objections. Thus, something “untenable” cannot be upheld (and is thereby indefensible). Thus, this analogy is one of antonyms. In contrast to being “enraged,” the best opposed word would be “serene.” Someone who is “serene” is not agitated at all but instead is at peace and is calm. This is quite different from the state of being enraged.