We can infer from the sentence's structure that we need to pick out an adverb that means something like "in a way where words mean exactly what they say." While "symbolically" might look like a potentially correct answer, we can tell that because "metaphorically" interpreting poetry "considers…symbolism," the missing adverb is not likely to consider symbolism as well, so "symbolically" cannot be the correct answer. "Literally," however, is an adverb that means "in a manner in which one takes words in their usual or most basic sense without metaphor or allegory," and because it best describes a way of interpreting poetry that in which "words mean exactly what they say" and best fits the sentence's context, "literally" is the correct answer.

We can infer that the duchess's ordeal was not pleasant and probably scary, so we need to pick out an adjective to describe it that means something like "unpleasant" or "scary." So, "pleasant" cannot be the correct answer because it is an antonym of "unpleasant." "Harrowing," however, is an adjective that means "acutely distressing," and because it is the answer choice that best describes the duchess's experience and best fits the context of the sentence, "harrowing" is the correct answer.

We can infer from the sentence that the word in the blank needs to describe a medicine's side effects, specifically unwanted or bad side effects, because cataloguing the side effects that the blank refers to results in doctors being "aware of all [a medicine's] potentially damaging side effects." So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "harmful." So, "beneficial" cannot be the correct answer because "beneficial" means the opposite of "harmful." "Adverse," however, is an adjective that means "preventing success or development; harmful; unfavorable," and because it is the answer choice that best describes the "potentially damaging side effects" the sentence discusses and best fits the context of the sentence, "adverse" is the correct answer.

We can infer that we need to pick out a word that means something like "uncomprehending," because Jenny did not pick up on her sister's hint and spoiled the surprise. "Clever," then, cannot be the correct answer, because "clever" means "quick to understand, learn, and devise or apply ideas; intelligent," and would not make sense in the sentence's context. "Obtuse," however, is an adjective that means "annoyingly insensitive or slow to understand," and because "obtuse" is the answer choice that best describes how Jenny did not pick up on her sister's hint, "obtuse" is the correct answer.

We can infer that because Julie "specifically wanted a mint chocolate chip cookie" and went to three different bakeries in search of it, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "specific." That means that "general" cannot be the correct answer, because "general" is an antonym, not a synonym, of specific. "Particular," however, is an adjective that means "used to single out an individual member of a specified group or class," and because "particular" best fits the context of the sentence, "particular" is the correct answer.

We can infer that because the vaccinations being described "are given to keep recipients from getting sick," that they must be protective. So, we need to pick out an adjective that means something like "protective." "Remedial," then, cannot be the correct answer, because "remedial" means "giving or intended as a remedy or cure," so it would make sense to give someone a remedial vaccine before they got sick, but it would make sense to give them such a vaccine after they got sick. "Preventative" is an adjective that means "designed to keep something undesirable such as illness, harm, or accidents from occurring," and because "preventative" is the answer choice that best describes the nature of the vaccines given to keep recipients from getting sick, "preventative" is the correct answer.

We can infer that because the comic book concerns a mad scientist who wants to take over the world with an army of zombies, that he is probably villainous. So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "villainous." "Kindhearted," then, cannot be the correct answer choice because "kindhearted" means "having a kind and sympathetic nature," and we're not given any information to suggest that this accurately describes the mad scientist. "Nefarious," however, is an adjective that typically refers to an action or activity and means "wicked or criminal," and because "nefarious" best describes the mad scientist in the comic book, "nefarious" is the correct answer.

We can infer that Charlie must have been pretty mad when his friends lied to him about their plans in order to leave him out of them, so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "mad." "Livid" is an adjective that means "furiously angry," and because it best fits the context of the sentence, "livid" is the correct answer.

We're told that the pool's water was "so still that it allowed one to see all the leaves that had settled on the bottom," so we need to pick out an adjective that means something like "still" to describe the water. Neither "energetic" nor "wavy" would make sense as describing the pool's water, then, so neither can be the correct answer. "Placid," however, is an adjective that when used to describe a place or stretch of water means "calm and peaceful, with little movement or activity," and because "placid" best describes the stillness of the pool's water, "placid" is the correct answer.

The blank needs to contain an adverb for this sentence to make sense, and one describing Justin as he asks about his missing candy; "angrily" is therefore the best choice.