To "escalate" means to increase rapidly, rise, or soar. Similarly, to "climb" means to increase, increase in altitude, or grow higher. So, "climb" is the correct answer because it is closest in meaning to "escalate." As for the other answer choices, to "crave" means to want or desire, an "antagonist" is the villain or person who works against the hero in a story, "obsolete" means old and outdated, and to "reign" means to rule like a king or a queen.

"Seldomly" means rarely or not frequently. "Rarely" is therefore the word that matches this definition. "Frequently" is the opposite of "seldomly," and "solemnly" and "loudly" are both unrelated words.

An accord is an agreement between two or more parties. To further help you, bland means boring and tasteless; delectable means delicious; blend and merge are synonyms and both mean to combine together.

To aspire means to aim for. For example, Steven worked hard at school because he aspired to go to college. To further help you, to comply means to obey or to follow the rules.

Persecute means to oppress or to treat with hostility. To further help you, assist means help; to deny means to refuse or to say something is not true; allay means calm or soothe; suspend means pause.

"Amend" means make a change to or modify, so "change" is the correct answer. "Decrease" means make smaller or lessen. "Achieve" means complete a task or goal. "Consume" means use up or eat. "Flood" means inundate, cover an area in so much water that it cannot flow elsewhere and submerges things above ground, or show up in extremely large quantities.

To "deprive" means to not allow someone to have something that they should have, to take something away from someone. To further help you, "urge" means passionately encourage; "suspend" means pause; "disbelief" means doubt. 

"Ascend" means to rise, to go up. To further help you, "elaborate" means complicated; "diminished" means reduced; "lofty" means high up, proud.

"Prosper" means be successful, especially in a way that has to do with money or finances, so "succeed" is the correct answer. None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "prosper": "freeze" means turn a liquid into solid by lowering its temperature; "recommend" means endorse or support; "respond" means reply; and "seize" means grasp or take control of.

“Fluctuate” means vary, particularly by moving up and down, so "vary" is the correct answer. None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "fluctuate": “rigid” means unbending or fixed; “malefactor” means troublemaker; a “despot” is someone who rules through fear and oppression; and “consider” means think about.