(B) hoodwinked

The same direction trigger as and the clues hoax and feigned require that the blank mean something like tricked. None of reconnoitered, lambasted, vitiated, or derided mean tricked, so eliminate choices (A), (C), (D), and (E). Hoodwinked does mean tricked, so select choice (B).

(E) dearth

The same direction trigger provided by the colon and indeed, and the clue that some people have never even seen a live chicken or cow requires that the blank mean something like absence. None of pith, dross, surfeit, or dirge mean absence, so eliminate choices (A), (B), (C), and (D). Dearth does mean absence, so select choice (E).

(C) deride , (D) deride

Start with the first blank because it is easier. The clue disruptive child tells you the mother probably punished the child. Touted would provide you with a sentence that was opposite in meaning and calumniated has a similar negative connotation, but it would not be appropriate. The second blank’s clue mock can be recycled for the blank. Laud is opposite of mock, and renege simply doesn’t make sense. Select pilloried and deride.

(B) bellicose , (D) diatribes , (G) magnanimous

First, find the story. Here is the funeral of a mean, judgmental man. The speaker respectfully finds nice things to say about him. For the first blank, look for things that go with arrogant and bitterly critical. Only bellicose, meaning aggressive and hostile, is sufficiently negative. The second blank describes the actions of the guy, so we need something along the same lines. Although eulogiesbelong at funerals, we need something bad. Diatribes work. The last sentence changes the direction by starting with nevertheless so we need something positive. Only magnanimous is positive.

(A) inerrancy , (F) doctrine

For the first blank, the clue is that the conservatives’ belief deals with the Scripture never being wrong, suggesting the missing word means perfection or infallibility. Fallacy is the opposite of what you need, and interpretation also does not mean infallibility. That makes inerrancy the best answer for the first blank. For the second blank, the trigger word However signals a different interpretation of the same belief, the meaning of the missing word. Erudition, or scholarly knowledge, can be eliminated, and centurion is irrelevant to the clues and blank. The right answer is doctrine, which means belief.

(C) esteem , (E) accolades

For the first blank, the opposite-direction triggers although and not cancel each other out, so you can recycle the clue honored. Neither decorum nor ennui means honor, but esteem does. For the second blank, the semicolon trigger indicates than an explanation will be given about how Father’s Day became an honored tradition. Ask yourself what was required from prominent figures before Americans embraced the holiday. The second blank must mean something like praise. Neither opprobrium nor hyperbole means praise, but accolades means praise. Thus, select esteem and accolades.

(A) extemporize , (E) petty , (I) impending

The clue to the last blank is next month, so the missing word must mean coming or about to happen. Impending is the best match, and neither of the two other choices is supported. For the first blank, the clue is that the memoir allows distinguished figures to tell us about experiences and wisdom learned, so the missing word must mean write about. Extemporize means to improvise, which is incorrect because Grant wrote an actual account, and exagitate is incorrect because there is no suggestion of his stirring up or censuring. Expatiate, which means to write about in detail, is the best fit. For the second blank, note the contrast between the significant works of distinguished figures and the experience of a fly-by-night internet celebrity. The missing word will mean insignificant. Apocryphal is incorrect because the writings are not necessarily fictional, and eccentric is incorrect because there’s no context to support the experiences being unusual.That leaves petty, which fits the context of the sentence.

(B) glib , (E) exacerbating , (G) parlous

The clues for the first blank indicate that the chairman’s comments made the people even angrier; you can eliminate compassionate and solicitous, because people would not be angered by kind or helpful comments. Glib is the best choice. For the second blank, you need something like making worse, because you know that the people are even angrier; exacerbating is the best fit. The third blank describes the situation that was made worse, so it must have already been bad. Of the choices, only parlous, which means perilous, is sufficiently negative.

(C) hegemony

Recycle the clue dominion. None of heterodoxy, methodology, impotence, or timorousness means dominion, so eliminate choices (A), (B), (D), and (E). Hegemony means dominion, so select choice (C).

(C) bucolic , (D) a cultural

The sentence starts with the trigger word Though, signaling that the two parts of the sentence will be different. Since you know the town is scenically beautiful, the second blank means something else besides its appearance. Eliminate attractive, and eliminate picaresque because there is no clue that the town refers to an adventure story. Cultural makes the most sense for the meaning of the second blank. The first blank describes the scenically beautiful town, and must mean something similar to attractive country as a contrast to the city. Eliminate sprawling and desolate, neither of which are suggested by the clues. Bucolic, which means pertaining to country pleasantness, is the strongest fit. The best answers are bucolic and cultural.