We can infer that because Vicky adds the strawberries to the liquid gelatin and by doing so is able to suspend them in "the resulting solid gelatin," that we need to pick out a verb that means something like "change from liquid to solid." Neither "melt" nor "liquify" can be the correct answer, then, because each of those terms describes a transition from solid to liquid, and we're looking for a word to describe a transition from liquid to solid. "Coagulate," however, is a verb that is used of a fluid, especially blood, and means "change to a solid or semisolid state," and because "coagulate" best describes the gelatin's transition from liquid to solid, "coagulate" is the correct answer.

In this sentence, you are well served by knowing the meaning of “pro bono,” namely for the public good, often implying free as well. Indeed, the term is most often used more loosely in the sense of for free, as when a lawyer takes a case for free on behalf of a poor person who has been grievously wronged. If you did not know this, you could infer that one doing pro bono work was rewarded in some non-monetary manner (as is implied by the main clause of the sentence). Since the sentence is ultimately about “reward” (and hence, to some degree about “repayment”), the best option is “compensated,” which means broadly paid for something, though you should know that it more specifically means paid for some loss or difficulty. Though it has this more limited sense, it is often used in the looser manner noted.

Because the squirrel decided that the sparrows were not a threat, we're looking for a verb that means something like represent. Because "constitute" means amount to, make up, form, or compose it is the best answer.

Since Celine got her project done by avoiding distractions, we can infer that we're looking for a verb that means something like "avoid." While "abdicate" may sound like a potentially correct answer because it means "give up," it is specifically used for monarchs and means "to renounce the throne," so it wouldn't work in our sentence's context. "Eschew," however, means "deliberately avoid using; abstain from," so it is the correct answer.

This question requires a small amount of critical thinking on your part. You likely will conclude that the President would be seeking to remove or help ameliorate the fears of the American people during a depression. This would lead you to the correct answer “allay,” which means to calm or relieve. "Exacerbate" is opposite in meaning and means make something greater or worse; "harmonize" means complement; "propagate" means to spread; and "undulate" means to roll and ripple.

The word "melior" in Latin means better. From this root, we get the word "ameliorate," which means to improve. You can think of it as meaning to make better. Thus, given that the student did much better on his exams, we can say that he ameliorated, or improved, his grade.

Notice that the series of talks is called "new" in the sentence. Thus, the implication is that the lecture is the first in this new series. The "inauguration" is the beginning or introduction of some new activity. For instance, in the US, a president will give his or her "inaugural address" when he or she begins a term of the presidency. Among the options given here, "inaugurate" is the best, as it indicates such a beginning of the series of talks.

The word "indulge" is generally used with regard to things that are desired, especially pleasant things. Thus, we indulge our desire for sweets by eating candy and indulge our curiosity by asking questions about our interests. Someone who is "indulgent" always fills his or her desires. The word can mean more generally to fulfill a desire, whatever it might be. Here, the children are not indulging their mother's questions. She clearly desires to ask them—for if they answer, she will ask even more.

From what is said in the second sentence, we can infer that the work in question did not deserve the praise that it apparently did receive. The word "merit" can be used either as a noun or as a verb. As a noun, it indicates a praiseworthy quality. Thus, we can talk about the "merits" of a given proposal. As a verb, it means "deserving of praise." Hence, this is the correct answer.

The general point of the sentence is that the damage to the cars was not certain based on the external damage. Thus, it was difficult for those looking into it to take full stock of the damage caused. This means that it was difficult for them to judge or estimate such damage. To "assess" something is to make [such] an estimation.