When we work with a double set of blanks in a sentence, sometimes it is easier to solve just the first or second one to begin. This sentence uses the phrase “those aspects as disparate” so the second blank must need a word meaning the opposite of disparate which means different. Let’s try the second words in each answer to see which one completes the idea best.

Is “formulate” the opposite of disparate? No, formulate means to state, plan or express an idea.

How about “commingle”? This may be an unfamiliar word for you but what does “mingle” mean? To mingle with your friends means to get together and if we add “co” like in cooperate, combine or committee, this word seems like it might work.

Let’s consider “rebuff”. The prefix “re” often means to do again as in repeat, rework or redo and even if we cannot think of what “buff” may mean, this does not seem as fitting as commingle.

“Implicate”? This word sounds and looks like imply, implore or implicit which does not relate to bringing together.

What about “compile”? The prefix “com” usually does mean coming together like in complete, committee and combine so let’s keep it for now.

Now we need to check the first words but only for two answers: contradictory…commingle and copious…compile. Read the sentence and try each set of words to see which one conveys the meaning of bringing different aspects related to racial heritage together the best? The answer “contradictory…commingle” works best because “copious” means a lot of something but does not work as well in the sentence as “contradictory” or different.

"Discomfited" means made uncomfortable or baffled, while "mercurial," means characterized by rapid change in temperment. Naturally, a teacher would first be baffled by a child's rapid change in moods (that is, his mercurial nature).

The correct answer identifies that government interference had very negative effects on personal liberty ("pernicious") and that as a result, the makers of the Constitution designed it to protect the rights of individuals ("safeguard"). The incorrect answers either mistake government interference as a positive factor ("anodyne" and "palliative") or wrongly assert that the Constitution limited rights ("degrade," "circumscribe," and "terminate").

In this sentence the only clue as to the meaning of the two blanks is the word “adequate.” The word adequate indicates that the British must have been able to cope with the uprisings. This in turns suggests that the Indian uprisings must have proved ineffectual. Futile and quell are the correct answers. Futile means unsuccessful or pointless and quell means to stop something. Undermine could have fit into the blank, but acceptable could not. The British would not want to support the uprising so you can eliminate that option; although, for the record, deleterious means harmful. Likewise, the British would not be likely to condone the uprising, as condone means to tolerate something immoral. Timid means shy and would not likely describe a rebellion.

This question requires you to choose which of the answer pairs would most logically fit into the structure of the sentence. The first blank refers to an emotion felt by Guy Fawkes and his co-conspirators in response to an action taken by the King’s guard that is described in the second blank. Most of the answer choices do not make logical sense, for example, Guy Fawkes would not be jubilant (which means ecstatic) to know his plans had been discovered. Nor would he be miserable to know his plans had been embellished (to add details or increase the beauty of something). The most logical answer is that Guy Fawkes and his co-conspirators would be enraged (made angry) after the guards thwarted (to prevent someone’s plans from being fulfilled) their plans.

The setting of the retirement community strongly suggests that this walk is proceeding at a slower pace, but it could (in theory) be a retirement home for former track stars, so the most important thing here is to look for a pair of words that both communicate a consistent pace. The only pairing that does this is "meander . . . leisurely," as "to meander" means to move aimlessly and leisurely.

The best first clue for answering this question is the subordinate clause "differing from country to country." This describes the second blank, which needs some word indicating this state of differing. To "vary" is to differ from something else. (Related words are "various", "varied", and "variety"). The first blank needs to describe travel that is in some way international. While "internationally" certainly does this, the option "abroad" functions just as well, describing something happening in foreign countries. This option must be chosen, given that "retain" (paired with "internationally") is completely incorrect for the second blank.

The key phrase in this sentence is, "who in turn similarly." This phrase indicates that Robert similarly abhors Marty. To "abhor" someone is to greatly hate that person. The only synonym that is provided for abhor is "detest," which means dislike strongly. Such enmity is apparently shared by both parties, meaning that it is "mutual," that is, held in common.

We can infer from the fact that the sentence is discussing a pickpocket that we need a verb for the first blank that means something like "steal." Of the possible answer choices, two mean "steal": "pilfer" and "nab." The second blank needs an adjective to describe the man that paid attention to his surroundings and did not have anything stolen, so we need an adjective that means something like "alert." Either "vigilant" ("keeping careful watch for possible danger or difficulties") or "attentive" ("paying close attention to something") could be correct. Of the four word we've identified as possibly correct answers, only two line up in a single answer choice: "pilfer" and "vigilant." So, "pilfer . . . vigilant" is the correct answer.

For the first blank, we need to pick out a word that describes how the pirates spent their money in a way that was not beneficial. Either "wasted" or "squandered" ("wasted something, especially money or time, in a reckless and foolish manner") could be potentially correct. For the second blank, we know that the pirates wasted their money by buying the swords referred to because those swords were not sharpened. So, we need to pick out a word that means "not sharpened"; either "dull" (when used of a blade, "blunt") or "blunt" (when used of a blade, "having a worn-down edge or point; not sharp") could be potentially correct. Of the possible words that we've identified as potentially correct for each blank, only "squandered" and "blunt" appear in the same answer choice, so the correct answer is "squandered . . . blunt."