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.”

The key here is that Sylvia covered her remarks up. "Euphemisms" are indirect expressions that avoid what would be potentially offensive words. The word comes from two Greek bases. The prefix “eu-” means good and is seen in English words like “eulogy” (good speech, a speech that presents someone else well). The second half comes from “pheme,” meaning to speak, and is seen in English words like “blaspheme” or “blasphemy.”

Platitudes are expressions that have been so overused that they really have no meaning—the “wisdom” that really is nothing but repetition of familiar remarks. At best, the reasoning behind the use of such expressions is “surface level deep” or “superficial,” which means lacking depth or profundity—literally “only on the top (super-) layer (-ficial).”

If something is “hermetic” it is sealed totally—often in the sense of being air-tight, though (as in our sentence) it can mean that something is sealed from outside influences. If the mountains thus seal the community from outside world, they are “obstructions” in the way of potential passage.

Someone is "wary" when he or she shows caution in the face of any possibly dangerous situation. Given that he had been duped in the past, it makes sense that Joseph could be said to be wary; however, do not be fooled by the sentence into thinking there should be a negative sense to the second word. There is nothing that implies that any future converse will be negative—even if he is wary. All that we can say is that he is careful when any proposal comes to his company.

We cannot say if Elizabeth was “dolorous” in her observation of these rules; however, it is fair to say that obsessive care would lead one to avoiding the mildest breach of conduct; therefore, the best pair is “scrupulously . . . infraction.” (Note that “regularly” just is not quite as strong as “scrupulously”).

A scrupulous person is very attentive to details, often from a fear of doing anything wrong. An "infraction" is a violation. The word is related to other “-fring-” and “-fract-” words like “infringe,” “fracture,” and “fragile”—all related to “breaking” because of their common Latin roots.

The key word is rather inconspicuous: “original.” This helps to give a sense to what precedes the “passage of time.” The “inception” of something is its beginning, and it is related to many “-cep-” and “-cap-” words like “conception,” “reception,” and “exception.” If something is “ossified” it has become hard and inflexible. The meaning is derived from the Latin for bone.