This sentence insinuates a positive connotation by indicating that Jessica likes being with her friends. Thus, the blank should be occupied by a phrase that is also positive. The only positive phrase from the answer choices is: "enjoys the connection of being with them."

Right away, you may have noticed that both the question and the answer choices are extremely emotional! Words like "vehement," "superiority," "love," and "passion" all imply strong feeling. Our task is simply to figure out what type of emotion is being conveyed. We know that the science teacher "vehemently," or very intensely, believes that science is the best school subject. She would certainly never prefer a different subject! Likewise, we can guess that she does not deeply love mathematics, and we certainly know her passion for math would not be "unsurpassed." We're left with only one potential answer. The science teacher must have a "general distaste," or dislike, for mathematics.

A "deadline" is a date by which something has to be finished. So, if the "deadline" for your homework is tomorrow you need to finish it by tomorrow. In this sentence the girl finds out there is no deadline for her homework so it makes sense that she would "feel no need to hurry (rush)." 

In this sentence you are told that the doctor was "forced to bring an umbrella." The main reason why someone would bring an umbrella is to prevent them from getting wet. If the doctor was wet or had just gotten out of the pool and umbrella would not really make sense. 

To begin with "dreadful" means terrible. The team lost their biggest game of the season and played terribly. So, it makes sense that they would be criticized severely or "crucified" by the media. To "crucify" means to criticize severely, to attack the reputation of. Additionally, "exhibited" means showed, displayed; "devised" means came up with (a plan); to "compromise" means to work together to find an agreement that is pleasing to both parties, to resolve a dispute by each side giving something up; "consolidated" means combined into one whole.

To begin with "parched" means thirsty, needing water. So, if the plant looked like it did not have enough water it makes sense that the subject would feel the need to water it. The correct answer is therefore " . . . so she poured water on it."

To solve this problem you need to determine which of these answers contains words that might be used to describe mountains. The correct answer is therefore " . . . a timeless and daunting quality." "Timeless" means eternal, lasting forever and "daunting" means impressive. Additionally, "miniscule" means tiny; "stingy" and "parsimonious" mean not generous with money; "fecund" means fertile, capable of producing a lot of food; "pliant" means flexible, bendy. 

You are told that the girl "made more mature friends." The word "mature" means grown-up, behaving like an adult. So, you are looking for a reason why someone might look for more grown-up friends. The correct answer is therefore "She found her old friends juvenile . . . " Juvenile means childish, immature, behaving like a child. 

To solve this problem you need to determine which of these is a reason why someone would need to bring a jacket. The correct answer is therefore "It is frigid outside . . . " "Frigid" means very cold. Additionally, "stifling" means uncomfortably hot. 

"Fables" are stories meant to give some sort of lesson, usually a moral lesson. So, to solve this problem you have to determine which of these answers is a positive result of reading fables to children. The correct answer is " . . . they teach valuable lessons."