Given that ignoring a lack of educational opportunities is a negative quality, the blank should be filled with a negative word. The two negative words are "criticized" and "bothered." ("Questioned" may seem like a potentially correct answer too, but people would question the mayor "about" something, not "for" something.) It is more likely that the mayor would be criticized (critiqued) for his practices, as opposed to bothered (annoyed). Therefore, "criticized" is the best answer.

Because we know that the squirrel "moved from the ground to a branch in a few seconds," we can infer that we need to pick out a word for the blank that describes movement, and more specifically, speedy movement. While "ambled," "walked," "meandered," and "scurried" all describe movement, only "scurried," which means "moved hurriedly with short quick steps" and is used of a person or a small animal, refers to quick movement. So, "scurried" is the correct answer because it best fits the sentence's context.

From context it is clear that the answer choice must mean something similar to "careless." Whatever the correct answer is it is some behavior that the mother wants to stop her son from doing. This should lead you to the correct answer "reckless." If you are "reckless" you are not careful. To provide further help, "studious" means studying hard; "industrious" means hard working; "considerate" means kind and thoughtful; "affable" means friendly. 

You are told that the subject of the sentence was able to make a lot of money in a short space of time. This suggests that he made good and wise investments. The correct answer is therefore "shrewd" because "shrewd" means wise, crafty, smart. To provide further help, "mobile" means moving, can be moved; "vocal" means loud, outspoken. 

Because the subjects of this sentence were late you can reasonably assume that they would want to rush to get to work. The correct answer is therefore "brisk" because "brisk" means quick, rapid. The subjects were late so they wanted to get to work at a "quick" pace. To provide further help, all four incorrect answer choices are synonyms - they all mean slow. 

Bill owes his friend some money, but does not pay him. From this information you can determine that this would likely lead to an argument or a fight. The correct answer is therefore "dispute" which means argument, a disagreement over something. To provide further help, "frequent" means happening often; "accord" means agreement; "vague" means unclear; a "demonstration" is a protest, a showing of some thing or some feeling. 

Because the girl takes her doll everywhere with her you can reasonably conclude that the girl likes her doll very much, she loves it. The correct answer is therefore "cherishes." To "cherish" something means to love it very much. To provide further help, "rectify" means fix; "despise" means hate; "rely" means depend, need. 

After a long drive it makes sense that the subject of the sentence would feel tired, so the correct answer is "fatigued." "Fatigued" means physically tired after a lot of work, exhausted. To provide further help, "abandoned" means left behind; "obstructed" and "hindered" both mean blocked, to have got in the way; "delayed" means made late. 

The only information we are given about the tree is that it is by itself. It therefore makes sense to describe the tree as "solitary" because this means alone. The prefix solo- means alone, one. To provide further help, "unseemly" means not polite, inappropriate; "docile" means calm; "fragile" means easily broken; "biased" means not fair. 

If the speaker missed his first two meals of the day it makes sense that they would be very hungry. So, the correct answer is "famished" which means very hungry, starving, ravenous. Additionally, "elated" means very happy; "cordial" means friendly and polite; "abroad" means in a foreign country; "energetic" means lively, full of energy.