The general idea is that Elizabeth can't exactly "put her finger" on her reason for thinking that something bad had happened. Nevertheless, she has a "sense" that there was something wrong. To "sense" something does not just mean that you see or smell it. It also can mean that you have some general idea that something is the case. If you think that someone doesn't like your answer to a question, you might say, "I sense that you don't like my answer." This does not mean that you are sure that they don't like it. It just means that you are picking up on something that they are doing or saying that makes you think that they do not like it.

Based on the context of this sentence you know that the subject is trying to reach or hold onto the window. The correct answer is therefore to "grasp" which means hold firmly, grab onto. Additionally, "leap" means jump; "dispose" means get rid of; "plead" means beg, urge; "address" means speak to.

It makes sense that people working hard, that had recently arrived in a new country, would want to achieve success, do well and be happy and wealthy. The correct answer is therefore to "prosper." "Prosperous" means wealthy, happy and successful. Additionally, "relent" means give up; "convene" means meet up, get together; "coerce" means force; "assuage" means calm, relieve, soothe.

Based on the context of this sentence you know that the correct answer must mean something like chosen, elected, nominated. The correct answer is therefore "appointed." To "appoint" someone means to choose or elect them, to nominate them for a position. Additionally, to "resume" means to continue; to "prevent" means to stop from happening; to "merge" means to blend, to combine, to come together; to "motivate" means to inspire, to cause someone to want to do something.

If the girl carries her blanket everywhere with her it makes sense that she loves it, values it highly, or "cherishes" it." To "cherish" means to love deeply. The other four answer choices are all loosely synonyms of one another, they mean hate. As in, "I detest being cold" or "I abhor the winter because it is so cold."

The subject of this sentence wants to keep working, but he notices that everyone else is tired and wants to stop, therefore he logically gives in, changes his mind and accepts the situation. The correct answer is therefore "relented." To "relent" means to give up, to give in, to accept a situation and stop trying to change it. Additionally, "exaggerate" means make more intense, make worse; "lionize" means praise heavily; "eradicate" means get rid of, destroy; "execute" means kill, kill with the backing of the law.

The sense of the sentence is that John was unable to make the same sound again. That is, he couldn't "reproduce" or replicate it.  To "produce" something is to make it. The prefix "re-" means, "Again." Hence, "to reproduce" means "to make again."

The general idea is that Laura is able to "add up" the cost of groceries. When we do this, we calculate of course! None of the other options are close to this meaning. The word "producing" is probably the only tempting wrong answer. "Calculating" is much closer to the idea of "adding up," so that is the best option.

This sentence is contrasting two states of affairs. On the one hand, some people are able to think up things that are new and excellent, but these same people cannot express these ideas to others. That is, they cannot "communicate" the ideas.

Do not assume anything more than the sentence justifies. Apparently these fifteen people work for Francine. While it does not seem that she pays them a lot, the sentence says that she pays them a fair wage. Therefore, the best option is the simplest one for this question.  She "employs" them.