"Plight" means a difficult situation or a dilemma, so "dilemma" is the correct answer. For clarification, "garrulous" and "loquacious" are synonyms that each mean talkative, "despair" is a feeling of hopelessness,  and "deft" means skilled.

"Fringe" means the outer edge of something. So, "fringe" is most similar in meaning to "periphery," which means the exterior edge of something. For clarification, "sacrosanct" means holy or sacred, "dismiss" means send away or ignore, "opening" means start or gap, and "ending" means conclusion.

An "idiosyncrasy" is a quirk or a unique or unusual characteristic, so "quirk" is the correct answer. For clarification, "wanton" means random and reckless, "capricious" means impulsive or unpredictable, "normalcy" means order or regularity, and "barrage" means onslaught or extended attack.

A "sequel" is a published work that comes after an original or previous work, so "follow-up," which can mean a work which continues a previous one, is the correct answer. A "prologue" is an introduction in a published work distinctly separate from the main work. "Feature" means characteristic or attribute. "Accomplishment" means achievement.

"Prowess" means skill or expertise in a field, so "skill" is the correct answer. "Doubtful" means uncertain. "Cuisine" means food or a style of cooking. A "bystander" is a witness or a person who is present during or observes an event. A "victim" is an injured person or party.

"Pique" means annoyance or irritation at being slighted, so "irritation" is the correct answer. "Catastrophe" means disaster or tragedy. "Indifference" means lack of concern or interest. "Perjury" means the crime of lying under oath. "Intelligence" means intellectual capacity.

An "affliction" is a disease or a disorder, so "affliction" is the correct answer. "Perfection" means the state of being flawless or without any defects. "Applause" means clapping that signifies approval or praise. "Aspiration" is a noun that means hope or dream. "Production" means the process of manufacturing or creating something.

A "quandary" is a difficult predicament or a dilemma, so "dilemma" is the correct answer. For clarification, "fluctuate" means to move up and down, "dilute" means to make weaker, "inquire" means to ask, and "postpone" means to delay an event. 

A "rendezvous" is a meeting, so "meeting" is the correct answer. For clarification, an "assault" is an attack, "fraught" means overrun, burdened, or full of, "location" means a place, and "disagreement" means argument or dispute.

"Climax" means the highest or most important point, so "peak," which means summit or pinnacle, is the correct answer. None of the other answer choices are close in meaning to "climax" or "peak": a "disturbance" is a disruption or an event that causes disorder; "surface" means the upper or outer layer of something; "hail" is freezing rain; and "distance" is the length between two points.