Since there has been a steady measurement of four feet of snow over the past seven years in upstate New York, then four feet of snow in the winter is the "status quo," an idiomatic expression derived from the Latin phrase for "the state in which" which means the current state of things.

A "sprite" is a tiny, fictional creature with wings, similar to a fairy, so "sprite" is the correct answer.

The list of items suggests that the blank word must be some term that broadly encompasses the artistic products of a nation. This should lead you to the correct answer, which is “culture.” "Culture" is the name given to the product of human beings from a certain time, particularly geared towards entertainment. While "music" is an example of a cultural production, it is too specific to be the correct answer, and "era" refers to a lengthy specified span of time.

Because the director achieved something notable, it is likely that he received some praise. The answer choice that most closely resembles “praise” is “acclaim," which means public praise or approval. To help you, "denigration" means scorn or hatred, and "superstition" is any belief not grounded in logic or reason.

The blank word must mean something like “saying” or “maxim.” The correct answer is therefore “adage,” because an "adage" is a well-known expression. To help you, a "martyr" is someone who gives their life for a cause, a "calamity" is a disaster, and the "climate" is the weather of a large, defined area over a long period of time. 

It seems logical that Marcia would work hard to provide something beneficial (helpful) for her family. This rules out "famine," which means a period of sustained hunger or food shortage. "Bilk" is a verb that means cheat, and a "buffoon" is a fool. So, neither of those answer choices work either. An "income" is money earned through work, and this is the only logical answer choice. The other possible answer choice “fervor” means passion.

For this question, you cannot infer that the son was being annoying (or that he was not being annoying). What is obvious, however, is that he is repeating his questions. This is indicated by "the same question three times." Therefore, it is his repetition, not the annoyance of that repetition (etc), that is without effect on his mother.

The key expression in this sentence is "thinking he could not accomplish anything greater." The implication is that Theodore is "at the top" of his career. The word "pinnacle" means high point, as in the high point or peak of a mountain. This word is often used metaphorically to describe the high point of some life process (like someone's career).

The context of the sentence and the use of the phrase “all the way,” suggests that the mountain climbers wanted to reach the "summit,” which means the top of a mountain. To further help you, a zenith is the highest point reached in the sky by a celestial object; "nadir" means lowest point; "expedition" means journey or voyage.

The word "dismayed" means upset, angered, so it follows that people who live in the apartment complex would likely to be upset by its terrible condition. This tells us that the correct choice is “occupants,” which means residents. To further help you, a "magnate" is a business owner; "neophytes" are beginners; "fraternal" means of brothers or related to brotherhood.