For the first blank, we need to pick out a word that describes a topographical feature that can have "a stream [running] through it on the valley floor." Because of the mention of a valley, "peak" cannot be the correct answer, and because of the mention of a stream, neither "desert" nor "ocean" make sense. Either "glen" ("a narrow valley") or "canyon" ("a deep gorge, typically one with a river flowing through it) could be potentially correct. For the second blank, we know that there are mountains on either side of the land feature, so either "enclosed" ("closed in, surrounded") or "bounded" ("bound" meaning "form the boundary of; enclose") could be the correct answer. Of the possible words that we've identified as potentially correct for each blank, only "glen" and "enclosed" appear in the same answer choice, so the correct answer is "glen . . . enclosed."

We can infer that for the first blank, we need to pick out a noun that means something like "look," because it is described as "mischievous" and it "appear[s] in her eyes." Either "gleam" ("of an emotion or quality: appear or be expressed through the brightness of someone's eyes or expression") or "spark" ("a trace of a specified quality or intense feeling") could be potentially correct. For the second blank, we need to pick out a verb that means something like "stop," because while the male subject "knew that they were going to get into trouble," he could not stop "such an outcome." Either "prevent" (" keep (something) from happening or arising") or "preclude" ("prevent from happening; make impossible") could be correct. Of the possible words that we've identified as potentially correct for each blank, only "gleam" and "prevent" appear in the same answer choice in the correct order, so the correct answer is "gleam . . . prevent."

For the first blank, we know that the specified patients were "kept away from the others," so we need to pick out a verb that means something like "kept away from others." Either "quarantined" ("imposed isolation on (a person, animal, or place); put in quarantine") or "isolated" ("caused (a person or place) to be or remain alone or apart from others") could be correct. For the second blank, we need to pick out a noun that means something like "a contagious disease," because we know that "the doctors suspected that disease that they were all suffering from could . . . infect everyone in the surrounding area if proper precautions were not taken." Either "epidemic" ("a widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a community at a particular time") or "outbreak" ("the sudden or violent start of something unwelcome, such as war or disease") could be correct. Of the possible words that we've identified as potentially correct for each blank, only "quarantined" and "epidemic" appear in the same answer choice, so the correct answer is "quarantined . . . epidemic."

Both the young and the old (in this sentence at least) are not likely to believe. While there are differences, they both wait for answers before giving their belief to an assertion. The best words therefore, are “credence” and “assenting.”

The former is derived from the Latin credere, which means “to believe.” There are many English derivatives from this Latin base, such as “credible” and “creed.” “Assent” is derived from the Latin sentire meaning “to perceive” or “to feel.” It has the prefix “ad” (to / toward – as in “advance”), which becomes “as” when tagged onto “sentire.” There are many related words, not only using the prefix “ad” but likewise “sentire,” such as “sensitive,” “consent,” “consensual,” and “sentimental.”

Each generation brings forth a next generation, leading to the mentioned repetition. The best option is therefore “beget . . . circuit.” To “beget” means to bring forth often with the connotation of procreation. A “circuit” is a closed loop, therefore well filling the need of the second blank in this sentence.

There is something of a play on words in this sentence. The roommate has two sides, and “duple” (and related words) imply twoness, hence “duplicity.” This likewise means—and this is closer to our usage here—being deceitful (as in being “two faced”). To “evince” is to reveal a reality. Such an act need not show a heretofore hidden reality. One’s (e.g.) body motions “evince” (in the sense of “giving evidence for”) one’s caring nature. 

Since the concern here is with removing something that seems to increase the time of an undertaking, such an intervening object is an “impediment,” which means an obstruction.  To “expedite” something is to make it occur more quickly. Both words come from the Latin word for “foot” (This is reflected in the “-ped-” portion of the stem, not to be confused with the “ped” in words like “pediatric” and “pediatrician,” which have different roots). An “impediment” is something placed on (im+) the foot (so to speak), and to “expedite” is to remove something from the foot or away from its path (at least taken literally).

To “plumb” something is to seek out its depths.  You might know from chemistry class that the element lead has a symbol Pb.  This comes from the Latin word “plumbum,” which was used for the element.  “To plumb” the depths of some body of water would be to tie a piece of lead to a string in order to see how deep it is.  The word “superfices” means “the surfaces” and is related to the word “superficial.” 

The merchants can be said to have gathered influence to themselves. For this reason, it might be tempting to choose “grasped;” however, the term “despotism” does not apply to this kind of political state of affairs. Perhaps you were tempted by “stolen” or even “wheedled,” but nothing in the sentence justifies these particular judgments. Also, their coupled words do not fit well grammatically. The word “garnered” means “to gather” and is therefore the best option. A “plutocracy” is a form of government run by the wealthy.  The prefix “pluto-” comes from the Greek “plutos” for “wealth.”

The implication of the first sentence is that the kingdom was without a king for a period (though it continued to function as though it had one). We know not why this occurred, but there is no justification for choosing that this was a time of conflict. The best answer is “interregnum,” which means “period between rulers,” coming from “inter-,” meaning “between” and “-regnum,” meaning “rule.” The latter is related to words like “reign,” “regal,” and “regent.” When someone assumes a given position, he or she is said to “accede” to it. This is a second meaning of the term, which is literally derived from the Latin for “to give way to.” (The primary meaning of “accede” is therefore “to give way to or agree to a given demand or request”).