The implication of this sentence is that the small town did not receive direct sunlight during the given period of time. This does not necessarily mean that it was rainy, snowing, or anything else. All that can be said is that it was likely to have been very cloudy (as is further hinted by the remarks about the clouds later). Thus, the word "overcast", which means covered with clouds, is the best option for the first blank. The second word, "parted," describes the spreading out of the clouds, which would have allowed light finally to shine on the town. (The "part" in someone's hair is the place where the strands spread in one of two directions.  The scalp under the part itself is often rather exposed.)

Because the actress accused the magazine "of publishing a . . . story about her that was full of lies and hurt her public image," we can infer that the magazine had to correct or take back its claims. So, we need to pick out an answer choice for the first blank that means something like "correct" or "take back." Either "retract" ("withdraw a statement or accusation as untrue or unjustified") or "withdraw" ("say that a statement one has made is untrue or unjustified") could be potentially correct. For the second blank, we need to pick out an adjective to describe the magazine's story that means something like "false" or "hurtful to one's public image." Either "libelous" ("containing an untrue written statement that causes people to have a bad opinion of someone") or "defamatory" ("of remarks, writing, etc. : damaging the good reputation of someone; slanderous or libelous") could be potentially correct. Of the possible words that we've identified as potentially correct for each blank, only "retract" and "libelous" appear in the same answer choice, so the correct answer is "retract . . . libelous."

Since the house is described as having "dusty rooms, loose boards, and broken windows," we know that we need an adjective for the first blank that means something like run-down or dreary. "Dilapidated" (in poor condition) and "dour" (gloomy) could each work in the first blank.

So, for the second blank, we need to choose between "feigned" and "capitulated," and we're looking for a verb that means faked. Since "feigned" means pretended to feel and "capitulated" means surrendered, "feigned" is the better choice and the answer is "dilapidated . . . feigned."

The sentence's context clue that the baby's crying disturbs Eric enough to send him to the library gives a strong hint that the word for the first blank should involve high frequency or volume. "Persistent" and "hysterical" could each be correct, as "persistent" would indicate that the crying is constant and "piercing" would indicate that it is loud. In the latter portion of the sentence, the fact that Eric goes to the library tells us that his studying is not going well, and in this context, saying that he cannot "concentrate," or focus one's attention on something makes the most sense. So, the correct answer is "persistent . . . concentrate."

That the teacher sent a note home "describing the interruptions caused by the student during class time" suggests that the student's behavior was bad and unjustified, and therefore "inexcusable." The teacher presumably "reprimanded" (scolded) him for his behavior and then sent the note home to his parents. So, the correct answer is "inexcusable . . . reprimand."

The mother wants to make sure her children are not being selfish, so she wants to make sure they are sharing and have a fair relationship with one another. The word "evenhanded" means fair and equal, but so does "equitable." A mother that wants to check on the activity of her children might "pry" or interfere with their lives, she would not "accelerate" (speed up) into the situation. To provide further help, "affable" means friendly, "collide" means hit, crash; "perplexing" means confusing; aspire" means attempt to be like; "inquire" means ask, question; "dogmatic" means insistent on one's own opinion. 

Since we know that the man used his savings to start a charity, we know that we're looking for an adjective for the first blank that means something like "generous." Both "altruistic" ("showing a disinterested and selfless concern for the well-being of others; unselfish") and "philanthropic" ("seeking to promote the welfare of others, especially by donating money to good causes; generous and benevolent") seem like good choices. For the second blank, we need an adjective that means something like "poor," since we know the families can't afford food or rent. Either "destitute" ("lacking resources or the means of subsistence; completely impoverished") or "impecunious"("having little or no money") could work. Of the potential answers we've identified, the only two to line up in a single answer choice are "altruistic" and "destitute," so that is the correct answer.

Since this sentence focuses merely on Aaron’s ability to cheer others, the best option will be that one which describes him in terms of cheerfulness and contrasts that with those who are not so cheerful. When someone is “jovial,” he or she is cheerful. The word comes from the description of Jove / Jupiter in Roman mythology. A person born under the influence of the planet Jupiter was believed to exhibit the cheerful personality characteristic of the God with the same name. For whatever one might say about the source of this word, it has stuck in English usage, though Jove has been left far behind. When someone is “sullen,” he or she is gloomy or bad tempered.

The relative and independent clauses work in parallel for this sentence. While James had been fooled before, he “finally” learns to be more cautious in believing.   Likewise, we can only say that his daughter’s tales are lies, for that is all that is indicated in the introductory subordinate clause. We are not told that they are remarkable, brash, or anything else of the like; therefore, the best options are “wary” and “deceptive.” To help memorize “wary,” think of it in terms of “trying to be aware.”

For the first blank, we can infer that because "[the explorer] wasn't afraid of any [of the dangerous obstacles]" that he is brave. So, we need to pick out an adjective that means something like "brave." Either "fearless" ("lacking fear") or "intrepid" ("fearless; adventurous (often used for rhetorical or humorous effect)") could be potentially correct. For the second blank, we need to pick out a word that describes diseases that can "spread incredibly easily from person to person and wipe out whole villages"; either "contagious" ("of a disease: spread from one person or organism to another by direct or indirect contact") or "infectious" ("of a disease or disease-causing organism: likely to be transmitted to people or organisms through the environment") could be potentially correct. Of the possible words that we've identified as potentially correct for each blank, only "intrepid" and "infectious" appear in the same answer choice, so the correct answer is "intrepid . . . infectious."