"Jest" is a word that when used as a noun, means "a thing said or done for amusement; a joke," and when used as a verb, means "speak or act in a joking manner." So, we need to pick out an answer choice that is either a noun meaning something like "joke" or a verb meaning something like "act in a joking manner." While "just" may sound like "jest," "just" has a variety of meanings including "based on or behaving according to what is morally right and fair" when used as an adjective, and when used as an adverb, "exactly," "very recently," "barely," "simply," or "expressing agreement." So, "just" cannot be the correct answer. "Joke," however, means the same thing as "jest," so "joke" is the correct answer.

"Parody" is a word that when used as a noun means "an imitation of the style of a particular writer, artist, or genre with deliberate exaggeration for comic effect." So, while a comedy, tragedy, book, or song might each be a parody, none of those answer choices are synonymous with parody, so none of them can be the correct answer. "Imitation," a noun meaning "a thing intended to simulate or copy something else," is the answer choice closest in meaning to "parody," so it is the correct answer.

"Getaway" is a noun that means "an escape or quick departure, especially after committing a crime." So, we need to pick out an answer choice that is a noun and means something like "escape." While "flee" may look like a potentially correct answer choice because "flee" and "escape" are synonyms when both words are used as verbs, "flee" cannot be used as a noun like "escape" can, so "escape" is the correct answer because it can be used as a noun and "getaway" is a noun.

"Remedy" means a treatment or medicine.

"Mirth" is a noun that means "amusement, especially as expressed in laughter," so we need to pick out a noun that means something like "amusement." "Depression," then, cannot be the correct answer, because "depression" means " severe despondency and dejection, typically felt over a period of time and accompanied by feelings of hopelessness and inadequacy," making it an antonym, not a synonym, of "mirth." "Gaiety," however, is a noun that can mean "the state or quality of being lighthearted or cheerful" or "merrymaking or festivity," and because "gaiety" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "mirth," "gaiety" is the correct answer.

"Outcome" is defined as something that comes about as an effect or end, so "conclusion" is the best match. None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "outcome": "commencement" means beginning or a ceremony marking the graduation of a group of students; "encumbrance" means burden; "sententious" means sanctimonious or pompous; and "peril" means immediate and serious danger.

"Dread" is defined as great fear, especially in the face of approaching harm, so "phobia," which means a psychological fear of something specific, is the best choice. None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "dread": "contentment" means satisfaction; "captivation" means fascination or attraction; "facade" means the front face of a building or a false front or appearance; and "hoax" means a deception, often perpetrated on a large scale to fool many people or the public.

An "outing" is a trip or an adventure, so "trip" is the correct answer. None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "outing": "fortitude" means bravery; "lull" means a pause or break in activity; "abundance" means plentifulness or a great quantity of something; and "compensation" means payment or salary.

"Hoax" is defined as an act intending to trick or deceive, so "joke" is the best match.

Finesse means refinement or a polished way of speaking or acting, so "refinement" is the correct answer.