The sentence means to say that the only way to overcome a hoard of ants is by means of traps and an exterminator. To "combat" means to fight. This is another way of describing the "overcoming" of such a hoard of insects. We often use "combat" as a noun, as in "combat in the war."

Since the writer is speaking about the first time that he or she "met" Sally, it is not a matter of being told about her at a distance. Clearly, Ken brought her to the person. (This is also quite clear, given that the author states that he brought her over to the house.) Therefore, we can safely guess that "introduced" is the best answer, since it implies physical presence, unlike the other options.

We can infer that because the tourist's believed that he was buying a "solid gold antique watch" when he was really buying a "merely gold-plated" watch, he was deceived. So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "deceived." "Accosted" may look like a potentially correct answer choice, but "accost" means "approach and address someone boldly or aggressively," so it would not make sense in the sentence's context; if the tourist had been accosted, he surely would have known it at the time and not "discovered" so later. So, "accosted" cannot be the correct answer. "Hoodwink," however, is a verb that means "deceive or trick someone," so "hoodwinked" is the correct answer because it is the answer choice that best describe's the tourist's experience.

We can infer from the sentence that we need to pick out a verb for the blank that means something like "cancel out," because eating unhealthy junk food could cancel out the healthy benefits of exercise. Neither "enhance" nor "supplement" can be the correct answer, then, because they are each an antonym of "cancel out." While "interfere" might look like a potentially correct answer, it would be grammatically incorrect in the sentence without the addition of the word "with"; one wouldn't say that "junk food can interfere the healthy benefits of exercise." So, "interfere" cannot be the correct answer either. "Negate," however, is a verb that can mean "nullify; make ineffective," and because it best describes the effects that eating too much junk food can have on the healthy benefits of exercise, "negate" is the correct answer.

From the context of the sentence, we know that the blank word must mean something like gather or collect. The correct answer is therefore “amass,” which means collect a lot of. To provide further help, “edify” means build or teach; a “barrage” is a seemingly endless attack; an “impasse” is a deadlock, something that is hard to work around.

"Placate" means to appease or pacify. If the manager is "anxious to avoid a riot," he or she wants to please the customers, and does so by offering "free merchandise." The answer choice that best describes the manager's actions is "placate."

From the context of the sentence, you know that modern historians find the writings of Herodotus useful even now; this suggests that the blank word must mean something like recorded or written down. This means that the correct answer is "chronicled," which means recorded the events of. To provide further help, "antagonized" means annoyed; "sedated" means put to sleep; "dignified" means to have given something dignity; "synchronized" means put on the same schedule.

The key to this sentence is the fact that it indicates that the theater performance was an "award-winning" performance; this in turn "elicits" applause; that is to say, it inspires, causes, or provokes it. As for the other answer choices, "permitted" means allowed within some set of rules; "suppressed" means subdued; "protracted" means cut an event short; and "imagined" means dreamed up in one's mind. Thus, the word that best completes the sentence is "generated."

It stands to reason that a flood wall would be put in place to prevent disaster, so the correct answer is “avert,” which means to stop something from happening. To provide further help, “extend” means reach out; “retain” means keep; “irritate” means annoy; “depart” means leave. 

We can infer from the sentence that we've got to pick out a verb that means something like "crumbles," because "anything [built] out of it is likely to crumble in cold weather." "Hardens" might seem like a potentially correct answer, but in the context of the sentence, it doesn't make much sense because if a metal hardened in cold weather, it would likely still be useable, or even preferable to other materials. So, "hardens" cannot be the correct answer., "Disintegrates," however, is a verb that means "breaks up into small parts, typically as the result of impact or decay," and because "disintegrates" best describes how the metal "crumble[s] in cold weather," "disintegrates" is the correct answer.