We know that the food ran out very quickly at the party, so there mustn't have been very much of it. Knowing this, we should pick an adjective for the first blank that is a synonym of little. Both "meager" and "minuscule" could work, leaving us to decide between "dearth" and "malady" for the second blank. For the second blank, we're looking for a noun that conveys the lack of available snacks after the food ran out. Since "dearth" means lack or shortage and "malady" means disease or ailment, "dearth" is the better choice, and the answer is "meager . . . dearth."

For the first blank, we can tell that we need a noun that means something like "poison," because we know that it "poisoned the laboratory's water system." Either "contaminant" or "pollutant" could work. For the second blank, we need a word that describes the water system's initial state, so we need an adjective that means something like clean. Either "unadulterated" (pure) or "unsullied (not dirtied) could be correct. Of the answer choices we have identified as potentially correct, only "contaminant" and "unadulterated" appear in a single answer choice, so "contaminant . . . unadulterated" is the correct answer.

We can infer that for the first blank, we need to pick out an adjective that means something like "unable to be defeated or overcome," because we know that the pirates' fortress is "located on an island" and "if anyone made it across the water to attack them, their fortress was also guarded by stone walls topped with cannons." So, either "impenetrable" or "unassailable" could be potentially correct. For the second blank, we need to pick out an answer choice that describes a body of water, because know that the fortress is "located on an island" and "surrounded by deep water and sharks" to reach it. Either "lagoon" ("a stretch of salt water separated from the sea by a low sandbank or coral reef") or "bay" ("a broad inlet of the sea where the land curves inward") could be potentially correct. Of the possible words that we've identified as potentially correct for each blank, only "impenetrable" and "lagoon" appear in the same answer choice, so the correct answer is "impenetrable . . . lagoon."

For the first blank, we can tell from the sentence's context that we need to find a noun that means something like loyalty. Either "fidelity" (faithfulness) or "allegiance" (loyalty) could work. For the second blank, we need to find an adjective that means useless, since the other fans didn't even bother to watch the games since they knew the star quarterback wouldn't be playing and the team had little chance of winning. Either "inefficacious" (ineffective) or "futile" (pointless) could be correct. Of the four words we've identified as being potentially correct answer choices, only two line up in a single answer choice: "fidelity" and "futile." So, "fidelity . . . futile" is the correct answer.

For the first blank, we know that the clay being discussed is "able to be formed into almost any shape," so we need to pick out an adjective that means something like easily shaped. Either "plastic" (moldable) or "malleable" (pliable) could be correct. For the second blank, we need to pick out a word that describes part of the clay that is left on an artist's hands after they have handled it; either "residue" (a small remainder of something) or "film" (a thin surface layer) could be correct. Of the possible words that we've identified as potentially correct for each blank, only "malleable" and "residue" appear in the same answer choice, so the correct answer is "malleable . . . residue."

We can infer from the sentence's context that we need to pick out a word for the first blank that means something like "laziness" or "tiredness" since we know that the cat didn't get off the couch all day. Either "lassitude" ("a state of physical or mental weariness; lack of energy") or "laziness" could be potentially correct answer choices. For the second blank, we need to pick out a word that means something like "not moving"; either "stationary" ("not moving or not intended to be moved") or "inert" ("very slow to move or act : sluggish") could be correct. Of the possible words that we've identified as potentially correct for each blank, only "lassitude" and "inert" appear in the same answer choice, so the correct answer is "lassitude . . . inert."

For the first blank, we know that Sally "was worried that someone would pass out from dehydration or heat stroke" on the picnic, so we can infer that she had worries about agreeing to go. So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "worries." Either "qualms" ("uneasy feelings of doubt, worry, or fear, especially about one's own conduct; misgivings") or "reservations" ("qualifications to an expression of agreement or approval; doubts") could be potentially correct. For the second blank, we know that "the weather forecast predicted . . . temperatures rising into the nineties," so we can infer that the day was predicted to be very hot. So, we need to pick out an adjective that means something like "hot" to describe the weather. Either "torrid" (which can mean "very hot and dry") or "sweltering" ("uncomfortably hot") could be potentially correct. Of the potentially correct answers we've identified, only "qualms" and "torrid" appear in a single answer choice, so "qualms . . . torrid" is the correct answer.

This is a two-clause sentence with a blank in each clause. The use of the word “but” as the primary modifier means that the first blank must be different, most likely opposite, in tone from the second blank. Redolent means reminiscent of something and does not match as an opposite of criticism. Imperious means arrogant or disagreeable and works with the word “wasteful,” but does not match with the word indulgence (the act of gratifying something for someone). Flattering clearly does not match with wasteful. Facile means easy and is almost the opposite of wasteful. (Solicitation means to ask somebody for something). The only pair to match is audacious . . . adulation. Audacious refers to a bold or risky venture, and adulation means praise.

The key phrase in this sentence is “attributing human . . .” When we attribute human characteristics to non-human things, we express “anthropomorphisms.” The prefix “anthropo-” comes from the Greek word "anthropos" meaning human being. “Anthropology” is the study of human beings in their culture and physical constitution. The word “metaphorical” well describes such expressions. Do not be tempted by “simile.” Remember, similes are formed with “like” and “as,” neither of which are used in the examples.

Almost all of the options for the first blank are somehow acceptable, so it is best to pay heed to the second blank’s options. What we know from the first sentence is that Alfric “had become a very quiet, reflective man.” A contemplative person can be called a “ruminant.” This use of the term, which is a valid use, is a metaphoric application of the strict meaning. Properly speaking a “ruminant” is an animal like a cow that chews on the rumen that is partially digested in the first chamber of its stomach. When applied to a person, that person is said to “chew” on their thoughts. This image of chewing on thoughts (thinking them over) was popular, for instance, in Christian monasticism, though it is applicable to any such reflective activity. The word “ruminate” is related to this usage, meaning “to think deeply and reflectively.”