Coda.
You need a word that means something like a bad ending. A coda is an ending that sums up what came before, which, in this case, was pretty bad. A rampage is bad but does not fit grammatically before “to,” nor does it correctly describe an earthquake — rather, murderers or mobs go on rampages.

Inundated.
Upon reading this sentence, you might have filled in something like “went to” in the blank. One good clue is that the carpetbaggers needed suitcases, so they were probably traveling. Process of elimination works well here — vanquished, blacklisted, boycotted, and berated all add ideas not indicated by the sentence. Only inundated (flooded, overwhelmed) makes sense.

Modestly, sparingly, do nothing to excess.
The only clue you have is that Socrates advocated a life of moderation, so you need words that mean moderately in both the first and second blanks, and a phrase that means “live moderately” in the third blank.

Roundly, panned.
Wow, what a terrible movie! Not a single reviewer could think of one nice thing to say? You need two words that mean something like “unanimously criticized” or “100% disliked.” Roundly means “emphatically,” or “so thoroughly as to leave no doubt.” Panned means “reviewed negatively” and is almost always used to refer to plays, movies, etc., so the word is a perfect match here.

Emblematic of, pragmatic, posit.
You learn at the end of the sentence that Hursthouse puts forth the same views as many other virtue ethicists. So in the first blank, you want something like representative of. The only match is emblematic of. You then learn that Hursthouse thinks ethics is “neither situational nor utilitarian” — the next part of the sentence will have a first part that matches up with situational, and a second part that matches up with utilitarian, (GRE sentences often use a pattern of mentioning two things, and then giving more information about those two things in the same order.) Base one’s judgments on subjective concerns refers back to a situational approach to ethics, and a __________ weighing of pain and pleasure refers back to a utilitarian (or practical) approach. Thus, pragmatic, which means “practical,” matches. Finally, critics would definitely agree with the idea that virtue ethicists “seek to enshrine their own prejudices,” so in the third blank, you just need a word like say or claim. Posit is the only
match.

Dumbfounded, turbid.
In the first blank, you need a word like amazed. Dumbfounded is the only match. Turbid which is related to turbulent, is the right word to describe choppy waters in which something could easily be lost. (Turgid means “stiff” and tepid means “lukewarm.”)

Trumpet, taciturn.
You know that Jeremy is successful, but it takes his family a long time to “discover” his accomplishments. Thus, Jeremy does not brag — or even report the facts! To trumpet is to “talk loudly or report something to everyone.” In the second blank, only taciturn (quiet) works. Don’t be fooled by prodigal, which occurs in the expression “prodigal son,” but actually means “wasteful.” (The original prodigal son from the Bible ungratefully wasted his inheritance.)

Proponent, catalyst.
You know that the woman in this sentence finally got the bill onto the legislative agenda, so she is definitely an advocate, or proponent, of the legislation. A catalyst — a term adopted from chemistry — is someone who creates change.

Abreast of.
The word although gives you a clue that what the professor is doing is unusual or not required of a retired person. “Takes pains” also tells you that what she is doing is difficult. To keep abreast of a topic is to remain current.

Circle.
The clue “in turn” leads to the correct answer. Incorrect answers irony and comedy add an idea — humor — that was not indicated by the sentence.