"Legerdemain" is slight-of-hand or a deception. A con artist would rely upon deception to steal from a widow.

A "polemic" is an aggressive argument against a specific opinion. The husband's argument against wasteful spending, though possibly reasonable, is undermined by his hypocrisy.

Our clues in this sentence are about the coach who “welcomed” the new team member and “his interest” in developing a “cohesive team spirit” so it sounds like the coach was looking forward to adding this person to the group. We need a word that is positive.

Let’s check for clues in the answers: The word “aloof” sounds like roof, aloft, alone or along which do not seem exactly positive or welcoming. The word “respite” might remind you of words like respond, respiration, responsible which are positive words but not very related to friendly team spirit building.

“Hospitality” usually means to show people that you are welcoming them with sincere interest and words like hospice, host, and hospital relate to taking care of others so this may be our best answer but let’s keep checking. 

The word “aspersion” might sound familiar because it may remind us of aspire which means to strive toward becoming better or desiring fame. But “aspersion” also sounds and looks like asperity which means roughness in manner and this does not fit so let’s not chose aspersion.  

So “effacement” is our last answer and it may remind us of effect, effort, effective or efficiency. None of these seem related to welcoming either so let’s chose “hospitality” as our answer which does mean to welcome warmly.

While all the answer choices indicate some measure of ill feeling, only “animosity” indicates the correct seriousness.  “Antipathy” and “coolness” indicate a carelessness, while “impatience” does not have an appropriate level of seriousness. "Harmony" means the exact opposite of ill feeling.

Because she missed classes from illness, the correct answer needs to indicate that in its context and tone. While “accidents,” "trials," and “coincidences” fit somewhat, none have the appropriate indication of illness. “Fortunes” should be dismissed immediately, as it is a positive word.

The activities were clearly stopped by the principal to make the groups behave.  Encouragement, valuation, and endorsement do not fit the sentence, while approbation is not quite strong enough. Only "moratorium" means placing a full stop on activities.

The actions resulting from his athletic experiences indicate he was clumsy. Only “maladroitness” means clumsy, while all the other choices are antonyms for "clumsy."

The two words that are most important in this sentence are "peculiar" and "religious." "Acquiescence," "rationality," and "respectability" do not have the appropriate connotation of "peculiar," nor are they appropriately religious in meaning. "Orthodox" actually defines standard, approved religious sentiment. Only "blasphemy" has the appropriate meaning of ideas that offend traditional religious beliefs.

"Conundrum" means difficult problem or puzzle. Teresa married her husband because his ways are puzzling to her.

A "juggernaut" is a large, overpowering, and destructive force.