The context of this sentence is clearly related to cooking. The word "culinary" means related to the art or science of cooking. To provide further help, "assiduous" means hard-working; "cagey" means careful, wary; "oratory" means related to the art or science of speaking; "sterling" means excellent.

The structure of the sentence suggests that the subject of this sentence was already in a gloomy and dejected mood and that that mood was made worse by the bad weather. The correct answer then must mean something like gloomy and grim. This should lead you to "saturnine." To provide further help, "contrite" means remorseful; "drastic" means extreme; "perspicacious" means discerning; "zealous" means overly passionate.

Based on the context of this sentence it is clear that the subject's friends wanted him to be more cheerful so the answer must mean something like not cheerful, miserable and gloomy. The correct answer is therefore "lugubrious." To provide further help, "beneficial" means helpful; "ingenuous" means naive; "incumbent" means highly necessary; "precarious" means dangerous.

From the context of the sentence it is clear that whatever event took place it must have been disastrous and had a terrible effect on the area. The answer choice you are looking for then is an adjective used to describe a devastating natural event. The correct answer is therefore "cataclysmic." To provide further help, "benevolent" means good-natured; "doleful" means sad; "craven" means pathetic and cowardly; "exasperated" means frustrated. 

From context it is clear that the speech must have been pleasant and enjoyable because the whole audience liked it. The correct answer must therefore mean pleasant-sounding so the answer is "euphonious." To provide further help, "parched" means very thirsty; "austere" means severe; "quenched" means satisfied, particularly of a thirst; "tortuous" means long and winding. 

Based on the context of this sentence the correct answer must reflect a characteristic that makes someone disagreeable, or disinclined to agree with popular opinion. The correct answer is therefore "contrarian." A "contrarian" is someone who disagrees with popular opinion. To provide further help, "debonair" means charming and sophisticated; "acclaimed" means widely praised; "devoted" means loyal or loving; "cagey" means shrewd and cautious

A funeral is an occasion that is usually serious, grave and dignified. So, to solve this problem you need to determine which of these answer choices has a similar meaning. The correct answer is "solemnity" which means the quality of being dignified and serious. To provide further help, "truculence" means aggression; "contingency" means a future set of possible circumstances that need to be planned for; "celibacy" means the state of avoiding sexual contact; "capitulation" means surrender. 

In this sentence a trial is cancelled because the prosecution could not prove or provide evidence for their claims. The correct answer therefore is "substantiate." To "substantiate" means to provide evidence proving a claim. To provide further help, "blazon" means embellish, which might have been a viable answer choice if there was not a better one available. Additionally, "extirpate" means to destroy completely; "relegate" means to demote to an inferior position; and "repose" is a state of rest. 

The subject of this sentence was fired for doing something with the company retirement fund. Logically it makes sense if he was fired for something like stealing or embezzling the money. Therefore the correct answer is "peculating." To "peculate" means to steal money that was entrusted to one in good faith. To provide further help, "brandishing" means waving about; "precluding" means preventing, stopping and excluding; "pondering" means carefully thinking; "buttressing" means supporting, reinforcing. 

In this sentence you are told that the population was forced to migrate away in search of a better quality of life. Logically then it makes sense that they would not have enough food and water. The correct answer therefore must mean something like scarcity, lack of, not enough of. This leads to "paucity" which means shortage, scarcity, lack of. To provide further help, "lambent" means flickering, like a flame; "enigma" means puzzle; a "declamation" is a speech given in anger or protest; "aegis" means protection, support.