For our purposes, the key word in the sentence is "blood-spattered," which tells us that the crime scene is gross and that violence has occurred there. So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like gross or suggesting that violence has occurred. The word that best fits the blank is "gruesome," which means grisly or horrible. As for the other answer choices, "blessed" means holy or sacred, "unconventional" means departing from what is traditional or expected; "quaint" means old-fashioned in a charming way; and "placid" means calm or even-tempered.

The main idea here is the host's energy and enthusiasm; he doesn't stop entertaining even when everyone else is tired. So, we need to pick out an adjective that means something like energetic or enthusiastic. The word that best fits the blank is "ebullient," which means overflowing with fervor and high spirits or full of excitement. As for the other answer choices, "wise" means knowledgeable or intelligent, "perturbed" means annoyed, "feeble" means weak, and "dogmatic" means authoritarian, imperious, or inflexible.

We are told that it "took researchers months to track [the crocodile] down," and if something takes months to track down, it's hard to find. So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like hard to find. While "vicious" might look like a potentially correct answer because one might expect a crocodile to be described as "vicious," the sentence concerns how the crocodile is difficult to track down, not how vicious or not vicious it is. So, the word that best fits the blank is "elusive," which means evasive or hard to find. As for the other answer choices, "agreeable" means friendly or amiable, "eminent" means well-respected or renowned, and "eccentric" means anomalous or unconventional.

This wary and suspicious art collector has reason to doubt the authenticity of this painting. The wonderful word "dubious" means doubtful or suspect, and is thus the best fit. "Unequivocal" would mean very much the opposite: it would be clearly and undeniably authentic. The painting also might be "beguiling" (enchanting) and "inestimable" (priceless), but these qualities would not raise any suspicions for this art collector.

The most appropriate word for the sentence is "intransigent," because "instrangient" means both stubborn and belligerent, which is how one might describe the candidate who is the subject of the sentence. "Despicable" (detestable) might describe the sentence's subject, but not as precisely, while "amiable" (friendly, relateable, agreeable), and "considerate" (thinking of others) are entirely off. "Spiteful" (vindictive) makes some sense in this context, but not as much as "intransigent."

The most appropriate answer is "resolutely," which means purposefully, unwaveringly or determinedly. "Intermittently," "sporadically," "variably" and "unreliably" all refer to events that happen at some less-than-dependable or regular interval, meaning that they would not describe Jose, who "steadfastly remained by [Daniel's] side" as his friend.

"Putrid," which means decaying or disgusting, fits most appropriately in this context, given the context clue about the goo "reek[ing] of the nearby sewers." "Fragrant" and "pleasurable" both have positive connotations in reference to the smell and are hence inappopriate choices, while "stark" means clear or unadorned, and "familiar" means well-known.

"Esoteric" means understood by or meant for a small or select group of people. A store containing only board games would seem esoteric to someone with no knowledge or interest in said games. "Opulent" means richly decorated, "eccentric" means strange, and "accessible" means available.

Mood swings would most likely cause Henry to have difficulty with a job, so the best choice is "prone," which means likely to be or act in a certain way, and makes the most sense in this context. None of the other answer choices make sense in this context: whether or not Henry is "used to" mood swings shouldn't affect his ability to "hold a stable job"; "mentor" means advisor, "porous" means containing tiny holes; and "dormant" means in an extended inactive state.

The person who is the subject of the sentence gave a public speech. Delivering a speech to others would test one's "oratory" skills, or speaking skills.