We can infer from the sentence that the bread dough was exposed to bacteria that resulted in it "bec[oming] moldy and unusable," so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "exposed to." "Enhanced" cannot be the correct answer because something becomes better when it is "enhanced," and we know that the bacteria made the bread dough not only "moldy" but also "unusable." So, "enhanced" cannot be the correct answer. "Contaminated," however, is a verb that means "made something impure by exposure to or addition of a poisonous or polluting substance." Because "contaminated" is the answer choice that best describes the interaction between the bacteria and the bread dough and best fits the sentence's context, "contaminated" is the correct answer.

We can infer that because the art student "felt that the requirement for his work to meet certain specific criteria restricted his artistic freedom," he probably also felt that those criteria limited his creativity as well. So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "limited." "Expanded," then, cannot be the correct answer, because "inspired" means "fill (someone) with the urge or ability to do or feel something, especially to do something creative," and if the art student felt that the criteria "restricted his artistic freedom," he's not likely to have thought the criteria to have inspired his creativity. "Stymied," however, is a verb that means "prevented or hindered the progress of," and because "stymied" best describes what the art student likely felt the criteria did to his creativity, "stymied" is the correct answer.

We can infer that because the sentence is talking about a "pest exterminator" who uses "insecticide" ("a substance used for killing insects"), that we need to pick out a verb that means something like "got rid of" or "killed." "Protected," then, cannot be the correct answer because the exterminator is clearly not trying to protect the cockroaches, but to kill them. "Eradicated," however, is a verb that means "destroy completely; put an end to," and because "eradicated" best describes how the exterminator assumed that he had killed all the cockroaches in the building, "eradicated" is the correct answer.

Based on the aging of the boxer and the fact that he decided to retire, it is reasonable to think that his abilities became worse, which matches the definition of the word “decline.” To provide further help, “improvement” means something that has gotten better; an “enhancement” is something added to make something better; “dismay” is a feeling of sadness and hopelessness; “growth” is the opposite of “decline.”

Because we know that the fairgoers are submitting guesses about how many jelly beans are in the jar, we can infer that we need to pick out a verb that means something like "guess." "Estimate" is a word that when used as a verb means "roughly calculate or judge the value, number, quantity, or extent of," and because it best fits the context of the sentence, it is the correct answer.

We can infer from the sentence that the percussionist let the gong continue to make noise at a certain point in the symphony, so we need to pick out an answer choice that is a verb that means something like "make noise." "Quiet," then, cannot be the correct answer, because as a verb, "quiet" means "make or become silent, calm, or still," which does not describe the gong in the sentence as the gong continues to make noise. "Resonate," however, is a verb that means "produce or be filled with a deep, full, reverberating sound," or in other words, "to continue to produce a loud, clear, deep sound for a long time." Because "resonate" is the answer choice that best describes the gong's continual noisemaking in the sentence and best fits the context of the sentence, "resonate" is the correct answer.

We know from the sentence that the slide being discussed is popular because it lets people slide "downward at very high speeds." So, we need to pick out a verb that means something like "slide quickly" or "descend quickly." While "meander" refers to movement, it cannot be the correct answer because it means "wander at random" and does not include a connotation of this wandering being speedy. "Plummet," however, is a verb that can mean "fall or drop straight down at high speed," and because "plummet" best describes the experience of someone who rides on the water park's slide and best fits the sentence's context, "plummet" is the correct answer.

We can tell from the sentence that Sam does not like mint at all, so we need to pick out a verb that means something like "intensely dislikes" or "does not like at all." So, "adores" cannot be the correct answer because "adore," when used informally, means " like something or someone very much," so "adore" is an antonym of "intensely dislikes," and cannot be the correct answer. "Loathes," however, is a verb that means "feels intense dislike or disgust for," and because it best describes how Sam feels about mint and best fits the sentence's context, "loathes" is the correct answer.

We can infer that because "Sam wasn't very athletic," he was probably breathing quite hard after winning the race. So, we need to pick out a verb that refers to noises made while breathing, specifically a noise one might make when one is out of breath. "Snoring" may be a verb that refers to noises made while breathing, but "snoring" specifically means "a snorting or grunting sound in a person's breathing while asleep," so it wouldn't fit the context of the sentence, as no mention is made of Sam being asleep. "Wheezing," however, is a verb that means "breathe with a whistling or rattling sound in the chest, as a result of obstruction in the air passage," and because "wheezing" best describes a noise one might make when one is out of breath, "wheezing" is the correct answer.

We can tell that Harold managed to avoid the bullies by climbing a tree, so we need to pick out a verb for the blank that means something like "avoid." So, neither "intercept" nor "confront" can be the correct answer, because they are both antonyms of "avoid." "Evade," however, is a verb that means "escape or avoid, especially by cleverness or trickery," and because it is the answer choice that best describes Harold's actions in the sentence, it is the correct answer.