Since the student's assignment was full of careless errors, we can infer that we are looking for an adjective that means something like minimal or lazy. Either "lackadaisical" (lazy and careless) or lax (not careful enough) could be correct. For the second blank, we can infer that the teacher thinks the student will work more diligently on a topic that interests the student more, so we're looking for an adverb that means something like diligently. Either "sedulously" (in a dedicated fashion) or "fastidiously" (meticulously) could work. Of the potential answer choices we've identified, only "lackadaisical" and "sedulously" line up in a single answer choice, so the answer is "lackadaisical . . . sedulously."

Since the morning is described as cold, damp, and foggy, we can infer that we need to pick a word for the first blank that means something like gloomy. Either "bleak," which means miserable and chilly, or "dreary," which means depressing, could work. For the second blank, we can tell that since the fog quickly dissipated, we need to pick an adjective that means something like fleeting. Either "ephemeral" or "evanescent" could work, as each word can mean existing only temporarily. Of the possible words that we've identified as potentially correct for each blank, only "bleak" and "evanescent" appear in the same answer choice, so the correct answer is "bleak . . . evanescent."

We can infer from the sentence's context that the first attempts to cross-breed the two types of wheat were unsuccessful, as the geneticist "eventually succeeded." So, for the first blank, we're looking for an adjective that means something like failed. Either "fruitless" (unproductive) or "futile" (pointless) could work. For the second blank, we need to find an adjective that describes the plant produced from the cross-breeding of two species of wheat; either "hybrid" (an organism produced by crossing two species or types) or "cross-breed" could be correct. Of the possible words that we've identified as potentially correct for each blank, only "fruitless" and "hybrid" appear in the same answer choice, so the correct answer is "fruitless . . . hybrid."

Let's start with the second blank. From the examples of "beads and links of chain," we can infer that the archeologists are looking for small artifacts, so we need to find an adjective that means "very small." Either "minuscule" or "puny" could work. For the first blank, we're looking for a verb that means to uncover, since the rest of the sentence refers to displaced dirt. In choosing between "excavated" and "exonerated," "excavated" is the better choice, since it means carefully removed dirt from an area, while "exonerated" means cleared from blame.

We can assume that the kitten was tired before its nap, so for the first blank, we're looking for an adjective that means sleepy. Either "lethargic" (sluggish) or "fatigued" (exhausted) could work. For the second blank, we can tell that the adult cats want nothing to do with the playful kitten, so we need an adjective that describes how they'd rather be left alone. Either "aloof" (not friendly; distant) or "unfriendly" could work. In considering our possible answer choices, only "lethargic" and "aloof" appear in a single answer choice, so "lethargic . . . aloof" is the answer.

Since we know that the subject of the sentence said that he wouldn't answer any questions incorrectly, we need to pick out an adjective for the first blank that connotes this same meaning of being consistently correct. Either "infallible" ("incapable of making mistakes or being wrong") or "unerring" ("always right or accurate") could be correct. For the second blank, we know that whatever the subject did, he did so "unfortunately," so we can infer that he answered many questions incorrectly. Either "incorrect," "wrong," or "erroneous" ("wrong; incorrect") could be a potentially correct answer choice for the second blank. Of the possible words that we've identified as potentially correct for each blank, only "infallible" and "erroneous" appear in the same answer choice, so the correct answer is "infallible . . . erroneous."

We know that Damien "can make everyone laugh," so we can infer that we need to pick out an adjective for the first blank that means something like "funny" to describe him. Either "comical" ("amusing," or in other words, "causing laughter especially by being unusual or unexpected") or "hilarious" ("extremely amusing" or "boisterously merry") could be potentially correct. For the second blank, we can infer that because Damien will "make a fool of himself in pursuit of a joke" and "will even make fun of himself to get others to laugh," that he is likely not sensitive to others' insults. So, either "immune" ("not affected or influenced by something") or "impervious" ("unable to be affected by") would make sense as a choice for the second blank. Of the possible words that we've identified as potentially correct for each blank, only "comical" and "immune" appear in the same answer choice, so the correct answer is "comical . . . immune."

For the first blank, we know that Samantha did "not [stress] over [the assignment] at all and procrastinat[ed] even as its due date crept closer," so we can infer that she was not worried about the assignment. That means that we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "not worried." Either "nonchalant" ("of a person or manner: feeling or appearing casually calm and relaxed; not displaying anxiety, interest, or enthusiasm") or "unconcerned" ("showing a lack of worry or interest, especially when this is surprising or callous") could be potentially correct. For the second blank, we need to pick out an adjective to describe Samantha's emotional state "when she realized that she wouldn't be able to finish [the assignment] in time" "the night before it was due." Either "despondent" ("in low spirits from loss of hope or courage") or "disconsolate" ("without consolation or comfort; unhappy") could be potentially correct. Of the potentially correct answers we've identified, only "nonchalant" and "despondent" appear in a single answer choice, so "nonchalant . . . despondent" is the correct answer.

If we fill in words that would complete this sentence, we might choose "clearly" and "stubborn," since we are told that the politician was in the wrong and that he refused to admit it. Three of the options work in the place of "clearly": "demonstrably" (capable of being demonstrated as true), "indubitably" (doubtlessly; related to the word "dubious"), and "plainly." "Conceivably" would be too weak here, as it would leave doubt as to whether the politician was really in the wrong. Of the corresponding second words, only "obstinate" would work as a synonym for stubborn. "Pliant" would be an antonym (meaning easily shaped or moved) and, while a "meek" politician might hesitate to speak out often, he would also likely be too humble not to apologize for a mistake.

"Though usually" is the clue in the sentence that tells you that you are looking for a pair of antonyms. "Taciturn" means shy or not saying much, so you need a synonym of "taciturn" in the first blank, and an antonym of "taciturn" in the second blank. "Reserved" (quiet) and "gregarious" (outgoing) are the only two words that fit. "Loquacious" and "verbose" both mean talkative. "Reticent" and "shy" are synonyms. "Timorous" means fearful, and "foolhardy" means foolishly daring, which kind of works, but not as well as "reserved" and "gregarious" do.