From the structure of this sentence it is clear that the correct answer must mean balanced, fair, and equal. This should lead you to "equilibrium" which is a state of balance and equality. To provide further help, "disarray" means chaos; a "hiatus" is a break, a period of rest; "quiescent" means at rest; "reverie" means a state of daydreaming. 

The sentence tells you that the department of agriculture has an inflated budget and that a committee is deciding on which department should have its budget cut. Based on the context it is clear that the department of agriculture will have to bear the majority of the budget cut. We use the word "brunt" to describe something that has to deal with the majority of the impact of something. To provide further help, "accrue" means accumulate, collect; "commode" means room; "trace" means outline; "travesty" means mockery of justice.

The man in this sentence is seeking to make amends. To solve this problem you need to determine which of these words means something like feeling or expressing regret before God. The correct answer is therefore "penitence." To be "penitent" means to seek God's forgiveness through humility and a confession of one's sins. To provide further help, "abstinence" means the quality of not indulging one's desires, particularly when related to sex or alcohol; "hubris" is excessive pride; "grouses" are complaints; "aspersion" is an attack on someone's character, defamation. 

From the context of this sentence it is reasonably clear that the answer you are looking for must mean cancer-causing. The correct answer is therefore "carcinogens" A "carcinogen" is something that causes cancer. To provide further help, "intoxicants" are things like drugs and alcohol, things that make you intoxicated; "laconic" means brief; "sinewy" means strong and muscular; "torpid" means lethargic, lacking energy. 

The fact that the two subjects of this sentence were able to come to an agreement quickly means that they were logically able to avoid a lengthy dispute. The correct answer must mean something like prolonged or lengthy. So, "protracted" is correct. "Protracted" means prolonged, lasting a long time. To provide further help, "savory" means delicious, tasty but not sweet; "supercilious" means disdainful, feeling dislike for; "laconic" means brief and is an antonym of "protracted"; "surreptitious means secretive. 

Hate and love are complete opposites so the answer choice you are looking for her should mean something like polar opposite, converse. The correct answer is therefore "antithesis" which means something that is the complete opposite of something else. To provide further help, "enigma" means puzzle; "personification" means the representation of something non-human as having human traits, incarnation; an "exponent" is an advocate, a supporter; a "crucible" is a harsh and demanding trial. 

The use of the conjunction "but" suggests that even though the subject did not want to go out his friends were able to successfully convince him. You are told that they made a passionate argument to "encourage" or "urge" him, so the answer choice you are looking for must have a similar meaning to these two words. The correct answer is therefore "cajole" which means to encourage, to persuade someone to do something, to urge. To provide further help, "preclude" means eliminate, get rid of, prevent from being included; "infiltrate" means gain access to, usually through sneaky methods; "tantalize" means tease and tempt. 

Based on the context of this sentence you are looking for a word that means something like intervene on behalf of, get involved to protect someone. The correct answer is therefore "intercede." To provide further help, "fetter" means to shackle, to tie-up; "prattle" means to talk foolishly at length; "adulterate" means to edit and make impure; "contaminate" means pollute. 

The fact that the people who did not support the subject were impatient suggests that the subject was acting in a sluggish, unhurried, or slow fashion. The correct answer is therefore "dilatory" which means acting slowly, sluggish. To provide further help, "disconsolate" means dejected, feeling hopeless; "prodigious" means large, immense; "debonair" means suave and sophisticated; "unrepentant" means not apologetic. 

You are told in this sentence that the author is describing an injustice in which an innocent man was convicted whilst another man walked free. Based on this context the other man was the guilty party, or the "culprit." To provide further help, a "pugilist" is a boxer, a fighter; a "devotee" is a committed fan; "guerilla" means rebel; "fallow" means left inactive, inactive soil.