The key expression here is “having little real content.” The words were therefore empty or “vacuous,” a word with clearly related terms like “vacuum” and “vacuity.”

Since the group fears publicity, they must wish to meet in secret. Particularly given the potential negative overtones associated with their work (see “controversies”), the word “clandestinely” meets the needs of this sentence very well. To do something clandestinely means to do it secretly, particularly because it is unseemly or perhaps even illegal.

We have two clues in this sentence. First, the programmer is new to his career. Secondly, there is much to be left learned in his coming years. Do not be fooled by "youthful" or "incompetent." The latter is too strong and the former merely tempts because of its resonances with the beginning of the career. (This could be a middle aged career change, could it not?)

The correct answer, "neophyte." is derived from two Greek components. “Neo” means new (as in words like neonatal—newly born). “Phyte” derives from the Greek for plant that has a particular habitat (indicated by its prefix). Here, neophyte means one newly planted, or something more like a novice.

The best word is “venerable,” which captures the sense of respect—great but not as overstated as “awe-inspiring.” A venerable person is respectable because of age or character.

The word is derived from related Latin words with similar meanings. We find the word also used in titles of holy men by the Catholic Church, who names someone “venerable” as a stage before potentially naming the person a “saint.” 

The key is to note that the astronaut is glad to return to terrestrial (or “earth-bound”) affairs. The answer will be the contrast between these and our word. Do not be tempted by “astrological,” which deals with predicting the future through the stars (as through horoscopes). This is tempting because it has the same “astr-” prefix as is found in “astronomical,” which means dealing with the laws (from Greek nomos—reflected in "nomical") of the stars (from the Greek aster).

 Our answer, “celestial,” is equally well derived, however.  It comes from the Latin caelum (and related words such as caelestis), which means “heaven” or “sky.”  This works better (not having the occult connections of the astrologers).

The reversal here concerns the aging man having to come back to a world that lives and works during the daytime; therefore, the best choice is “diurnal.” The word is like a “reversal” of “nocturnal,” and it means pertaining to the night time.

Both words have Latin bases. They key difference is “noct-,” which comes from the Latin for night as opposed to “di-,” which comes from the Latin for day.

The key here is to note that the king wishes to verify that he can drink the water. The word “potable” means “drinkable.” It is derived from the Latin potare, which means “to drink.”

The man’s disposition leads him to assault his relatives. Hence, he is warlike. The best word is therefore, “belligerent,” which is derived from the Latin bellum, meaning war. A related English word would be “bellicose.” Many also know the expression “ante bellum.” While some students think this just means southern, because it is used often in American history to describe the “antebellum South,” what it really means is the South before the Civil War.

The key is to note that the affections of the woman are not merely surface level (superficial) but that they are passing and changing; therefore, the best answer is “ephemeral.” It is derived from Greek meaning lasting a short time.

The key here is that John’s attitude is not merely “upbeat” but is even “overly” so—“overly optimistic.” The best word is therefore “Pollyanna,” which is derived from the name of a young character in an early-twentieth-century novel by the same name. Pollyanna made it her goal to give a positive interpretation to every situation. The term has taken on this connotation in an almost negative manner.