When something is done ad hoc, it is performed for this or that purpose, not in a planned, cohesive manner. (The expression comes from Latin meaning “to this [purpose / end].”) The implication, therefore, is that the meetings were not planned but merely addressed issues as they arose. Therefore, it did not have any preplanned agenda. The word come from the Latin meaning “things to be done.” It is related to many “act” words like “agent,” “action,” “activity,” and so forth.

Although one might be tempted to choose almost any of the options, most of all “erudition” and “sophistication,” the sense of the sentence is best met by a word describing one having complete ability to communicate. When someone is “fluent” in a language, he or she is able to utilize it in speaking and / or writing in a totally natural manner. The word comes from the Latin for “to flow,” and one could think of a “fluent speaker” as one from whom words “flow readily.”

The only thing that can be said about the fifteen people in relation to Theodoric is that they were now “under” his watch or control. When someone is called a “subordinate,” he or she is in a lower position in relation to those who are “over” them. The word literally means “of an order (‘-ordinate’) below (‘sub-’)” or “ordained (i.e. placed or assigned) below another.”

When someone is “unflagging,” he or she is tireless. Someone is said to be “flagging,” when he or she is tiring, a word that is related to the “flapping” sort of hanging that one finds in the case of a cloth flag on display; therefore, the best description of Imelda (in the face of the numerous defeats) is that she continued onward in spite of the disappointments. Thus, she “persevered” or had “perseverance.”

The opposition in this sentence is between “vagueness” and “non-vagueness.” Therefore, the best choice is not merely “simplicity” or even “plainness,” but instead “precision.” When someone is precise (or shows precision), he or she does or writes “just enough” in order to communicate everything that is needed. This means that such language will not be vague or diffuse but rather is direct and plain. The word literally means “to cut short” or “to cut in advance.” It is related to “scissors” as well as “incision.”

The key expression here is “to change his opinions.” Since Oliver’s wife failed to lead him to change these, it could be said that he was stubbornly clinging on to his ways and options. When someone is “obdurate,” he or she is stubborn in refusing to change in these ways. The word comes from the Latin for “hard” found in English words like “durability” and “endurance.” The expression “to harden one’s heart” is similar in meaning to “obdurate.”

The key expression here is “mock and laugh.” Since it is implied that Francis cannot bear such things, the best to say that he could not bear “ridicule.” The word means “to mock, deride, and / or laugh at.” It comes from the Latin for “to laugh” and is found in English words like “ridiculous,” “risible,” and “derision.” In particular, “deride” carries the added sense of mockery, not merely laugher.

The second half of the sentence tells us that Jennifer gave some kind of introduction. "Preamble" is the answer choice that means an introductory statement.

Since we are told nothing at all about the nature of the chemical that Ryan did not need, the most general option will be the best. Even the word “compound” is too general, for one could perhaps kill plants with elements (i.e. non-compounds); therefore, the best option is “herbicide,” which merely means “a substance that kills plants.” This word is part of a larger “-cide” class of words that mean “to kill.” Think of “suicide,” which means “to kill oneself” (sui) and “fratricide” which means “to kill one’s brother” (frater / fratr-).

Since the warriors were defeated, we should expect only a portion or a remainder of the many thousands retreated to the ships. The word we want should indicate smallness, because not many of the warriors survived. "Phalanx" means a specific type of military formation—this would say something about how the soldiers retreated, not about how many were left. "Rabble" is close, but it means a disorderly mob. "Legion" is the opposite of what we want; it means a very large number. "Capillary" refers to a vein or blood vessel in the body. The best choice is "remnant," which means a fragment or a small remainder.