In this sentence, "up to date" describes the "ever new" part of the quotation. The "old and respectable" applies to the first part (in which our blank is found). We could say "ever old, ever new," though that is not an option. The word "ancient" means very old. This is the best option. Do not be tempted by "decrepit"; a "decrepit" thing is old and feeble. This does not fit with "respectable."

The key clue for this sentence is the clause starting with "though." Although it would take a long time to count all of the sand on the beach, it is still possible to do so. This means that its grains are not endless in number. Therefore, they are not infinite. They are, instead, "finite." The word comes from Latin for end. Think of other English words like "finale" and "finish." To be "finite" means coming to a finish. A finite thing is not endless.

This sentence contrasts two personalities—that of Christopher and that of Eliza. Eliza likes to store her books in an orderly fashion. It disturbs her that Christopher does not. While he might be immature or annoying in his storage manners, the implied contrast is with "orderly." If someone does something in a random manner, this lacks any apparent order. Therefore, of the options provided, this is the best.

The sentence implies that after a major life event, people can begin to see their friends suddenly again. If any of the options were synonymous with "suddenly," they would be potential correct answers. However, as such an answer is not provided, we need to find something else that contrasts well with not seeing friends for years. In contrast to such extended absence, "frequent" visits are quite different. Therefore, of the options provided, this is the only one that adequately works without importing other meanings (as happens with negative words like "flippantly," "sadly," and "manipulatively").

The conjunction "for" functions much like "because." The second half of the sentence therefore explains the first half. In the second half, it is clear that regularity and routine are helpful for the child. This indicates that he or she would need a parent who lives with such regularity. When we are "consistent," we do not change with regard to our duties or activities. Therefore, this word best describes the behavior of such good parents.

The second part of the sentence tells us that the damage done to your body by smoking will stay with you forever. The correct answer is therefore “irreversible,” which means unable to be reversed, unable to be changed back. To provide further help, “implacable” means unstoppable, relentless; “irritable” means easily annoyed; “mollifying” means calming; “edible” means able to be eaten. 

We know that the hikers "travel[ed] twenty miles on foot in one day," so we can infer that they were tired after their hike. So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "tired." "Energetic," then, cannot be the correct answer, because "energetic" means "showing or involving great activity or vitality," meaning that describing tired hikers as "energetic" would not make any sense. "Weary," however, is an adjective that means "feeling or showing tiredness, especially as a result of excessive exertion or lack of sleep," and because "weary" best describes the hikers' likely condition after hiking twenty miles in one day, "weary" is the correct answer.

This sentence contrasts something new ("smart phones") with something old ("flip phones"). Based on the location of the blank, you know that the answer choice has to relate to the old-fashioned nature of flip phones. This rules out "intrepid," which means adventurous; "innovative," which means pioneering or inventive; and "new-age," which means modern. The correct answer is “obsolete.” Something that is "obsolete" has been made irrelevant by some newer invention. To help you, "jocular" means good-natured and happy.

The idea here is that the container has been scrubbed, that is, turned from being "filthy," or very dirty, to "spotless," or very clean. So, we can infer that we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like very clean. So, that means that "dusty" cannot be the correct answer, as "dusty" means covered in dust and so is an antonym of very clean. The word that best fits the sentence is "immaculate," which means spotless, pristine, or free from error. As for the other answer choices, "hazardous" means dangerous, "content" means pleased or happy with circumstances as they stand, and "salubrious" means good for one's health.

We know that Tabitha "put no effort into [her paper]," so we can infer that she was "asked to rewrite" it because it was subpar. So, we need to pick out an adjective that means something like "subpar." "Lackluster," an adjective that means "lacking in vitality, force, or conviction; uninspired or uninspiring," is the correct answer because it is the answer choice that best describe's the paper that Tabitha "put not effort into."