"Mitigate" and "assuage" both mean to diminish or lighten. "Aggravate" means to annoy or irritate. "Rouse" means to wake or stimulate. "Anodize" means to gild or encrust. "Inure" means to accustom or acclimate. 

"Usurp" and "supplant" both mean to take over. "Recant" means to take back something said. "Relinquish" means to give up or let go. "Repine" means to complain or fret. "Stipulate" means to decide on conditions.

"Sustain" is a verb with a variety of meanings, including "strengthen or support physically or mentally," "cause to continue or be prolonged for an extended period or without interruption," "undergo or suffer something unpleasant, especially an injury," or "uphold, affirm, or confirm the justice or validity of." Neither "crumble" nor "break" can be the correct answer because each word is an antonym of the second meaning of "sustain," "cause to continue or be prolonged for an extended period or without interruption." "Suffer," however, is synonymous with the third meaning of "sustain," "undergo or suffer something unpleasant, especially an injury." Because "suffer" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "sustain," it is the correct answer.

The word “propitiate” comes from the same Latin root from which we get the word “propitious,” meaning “favorable,” as in, “He quit his job in the most propitious circumstances, for the market for his skills was greatly in demand at very high rates of pay.” To “propitiate” is to do an action for the gods, as though one were sacrificing to please or calm them—in the hopes of attaining favorable circumstances. Therefore, the word is synonymous with “appease.”

"Err" is a verb that means to make a mistake. The choice that makes the most sense here is "blunder," since when used as a verb, it shares a similar meaning - to make a mistake. Considering the other choices, "breathe" means to inhale and exhale air, "correct" means  to fix a mistake, and "tinker" means to work to fix something without having any skill.

The word "abate" is a verb that means to reduce in amount or intensity. The best answer is "lessen," since it shares the same meaning—to reduce. Considering the other choices, "bait" is not an appropriate answer because when used as a verb, it means either taunt or put food in a trap in order to lure animals to it. As a noun, "bait" is something used to attract. The word "trick" means to deceive and "expand" means to increase in extent.

"Change" is a verb that means to alter the state of something. The best choice is "mutate" since it shares the same definition as "change"—to alter. Considering the other answer choices, "perceive" means actively notice, "convince" means get someone to change their opinion to another one, "limit" means set a certain amount or extent to which one may accumulate or do something, and "bombard" means overwhelm with a great number of something.

To “ameliorate” a situation means to improve it, or to make it better, so "improve" is the correct answer. To “disprove” something means to prove that it is wrong or incorrect; "infer" means to come to a conclusion that requires a logical jump from one point to another that may not immediately be obvious; "carry" means transport by picking up in one's arms and walking around; and "antagonize" means provoke.

"Conform" means adhere to a set standard just as others do or match and agree, so "match" is the correct answer. As for the other answer choices, "forget" means lose the memory of; "aggrandize" means make seem more important or powerful than something or someone really is; "justify" means explain one's reasons for doing something; and "demean" means insult and degrade.

When one thing “necessitates” another, it requires that the latter thing happen. One event is said to “entail” another when the latter is a necessary consequence of the former. For instance, “Because it requires a good deal of mathematical thought, learning to program a computer almost always entails becoming proficient at certain types of mathematics as well.”