"Banal" means dull and commonplace. Because Jonathan paints unique and exciting works, it can be reasoned that he dislikes the dull and commonplace (that is, the banal).

"Incumbent," in this sense, means obligatory. A jury is obligated to be unprejudiced.

"Obstreperous" means noisy and unruly. Of course, noisy and unruly boys would be suspended.

Your clue to the word needed must be the list of words included in the sentence; there are five different art forms listed. Think about words that mean including several different but related things. Check to see if you know any parts of the answers included; do you recognize prefixes, roots or suffixes?

Part of the word “variegated” looks like variety or various so let’s keep that choice for now.

Parts of “incorruptible” seem familiar too; the prefix “in” usually changes the meaning of the root of the word to its opposite and “corrupt” means just plain bad. So incorruptible must mean something like not able to be made bad; that does not seem to relate to different art forms so let’s eliminate the choice. 

We have three more choices: eccentric, eclectic and thwarted. Try to remember if you have ever heard or seen these words in any context; in school, at home or on a television show? Sometimes the setting in which you saw or heard the words gives you a clue. Maybe you overheard someone saying that one of his teachers was very “eccentric”; do you know the teacher mentioned because that might give you a clue. The word “thwarted” is in the past tense. Why would a list of visual art forms be described using a verb in the past tense? I think we might eliminate the choice of “thwarted”.

Now we are left with “eccentric” and “eclectic”. The word eccentric includes “centr” which seems like a part of words like central or center or centrifugal; does this seem to describe art forms? NO.

Let’s choose the answer “eclectic” since there is nothing we can find to rule it out. Eclectic is the correct answer because it means having components from many different sources or styles. Always be brave enough to choose a word that you are unfamiliar wit if it is the only choice you cannot eliminate.

Our clues are “distant and . . . very different” in this single blank question. Since you probably will not know all the meanings of the answer choices, you must use any clues within the sentence to help you. 

“Spontaneous” does not mean “distant and . . . very different”. “Affable” looks and sounds like affect, approachable or affinity which all have something to do with feelings so it does not seem to match with “distant”. “Pedestrian” may be a word you know from taking Latin or from life experiences; the word root “ped” means foot in Latin and “pedestrian walkway” means a place to walk or a common walkway.

“Aloof” sounds like aloft, roof or above which might match up well with “distant” but “furtive” means untrustworthy. You may not know this meaning and there are no good clues; what to do?  Choose “aloof” since you are quite sure that it works.

Both her sickness and her stay out of the sun indicate the subject was left pale and sickly, the very definition of “pallid.” “Cherubic,” "healthful," and “rosy”” are also all synonyms to each other, which is a good way to eliminate answer choices. 

The boss’ discussion in front of experts reveals he is speaking out of arrogance rather than a position of actual knowledge. “Brilliant” and “inquisitive” both indicate actual levels of knowledge, while “incompetent” and "illogical" do not indicate the appropriate arrogance.

As the sisters are avoiding their morther’s analysis, it is safe to assume the analysis is negative. Of the choices, “scrupulous,” meaning careful and diligent, is the only answer choice that is negative in context.

The guidelines the new sergeant’s demands provided are strict, meaning he was forceful and clear in what he asked.  “Lackluster” and “uninspiring” do not have enough sense of clarity, while “negotiable” and "flexible" are not strict enough adjectives to fit the sentence.

As the young men avoid her, the elderly woman obviously dislikes modern dating habits, which rules out “approving” and “laudatory” as possible correct answers.  Similarly, the young men’s unwillingness to talk indicates she was not “inquisitive,” or "curious." “Censorious,” meaning stern and critical, is the only possible correct answer.