"Baffle" means confuse, so "confuse" is the correct answer.

First of all, do not confuse the word "commend" with "comment." The latter ("comment") might be used to mean remark when used as a noun, as when we "make a comment"; it can also be used as a verb meaning say, as in "to comment on something." The word we are looking for is a synonym of "commend." When we "re-commend" someone, we tell judge that someone is good at something and tell another person that they should think the same. When we do this, we "re-praise" the person; we praise him or her again to someone else. The word "commend" is a verb that means praise, generally indicating that the praise is being done in a formal ceremony of sorts—some sort of official praising. When we "salute," we do not necessarily make a gesture like a soldier in the military. The word "salute" can be used to describe the action of praising someone. Indeed, when a soldier "salutes" his or her general, he is recognizing and praising the authority of that person. There is at least a relation between the two uses for "salute." Since the word "commend" means recognize or praise and so does "salute," the latter is the best option given for a synonym.

"Retort," when used as a verb, means answer or reply. When used as a noun, a "retort" is an answer or a reply. The best choice is "reply," as it is a part of the definition of "retort." Considering the other choices, "conclude" means come to a decision or finish, "compose" means write, and "halt" means stop.

When something is "deceiving," it is tricky. It looks one way when, in fact, it is another thing. Thus, when we try to "deceive" someone, we try to trick that person. We attempt to make them think that one thing is true when, in fact, something else is the case. Thus, the best option here is "mislead." When we deceive someone, we "lead" them to believe the wrong thing.

When we "express" a thought, we attempt to communicate it in words as well as in bodily movements. An "expressive song" is one that has the power of communicating a message powerfully. An "expression" is a series of words communicating some kind of meaning. Thus, the best option for "express" is "communicate," for this alone focuses on the idea of making known some sort of message.

To "abuse" something is to hurt it. Something that has been "abused" has been hurt or tormented. To provide further help, "abolish" and "repeal" are synonyms - both words mean to stop, to formally discontinue. 

To "pardon" someone means to forgive them, to excuse behavior. To provide further help, "remedy" means fix, solution, solve; "quake" means tremor, shake. 

The word "acknowledge" clearly has a root of "knowledge" in it. It has to do with showing your awareness of something or someone. For example, "acknowledging a person's dignity," means, "recognizing his or her dignity." It can also mean merely to admit, as when we say, "I acknowledged that I broke the glass." This means that you admit that you broke it.

The word "restrain" means to prevent or limit someone's ability to act. Thus, we can say, "I restrained the dog while the doctor treated its wound." Also, we can exercise "self-restraint," as when we prevent ourselves from acting in an excessive manner. For example, "I restrained myself from eating fifteen candy bars for dinner." Thus, restraining and limiting are synonymous, making the best choice for this question "limit."

The word "assume" means to suppose something to be the case. For example, let's say that I haven't looked out the window today. For the past five weeks, it has been sunny outside. If I assume that it will be sunny, I am making an educated guess that it will be so again. I don't take an umbrella because I suppose that it will be dry outside. Sometimes, you hear people say something like, "Suppose that you are on a high mountain alone, what would you do?" This is trying to get you to assume that you are on such a mountain so that you can imagine what you might do in that situation.