(D) enervation

The same-direction semi-colon trigger and the clues arduous combat, two battles in two days and subsequent defeat require that the blank mean something like exhaustion. None of bellicosity, pugnacity, pacification, or aggravation means exhaustion, so eliminate choices (A), (B), (C), and (E). Enervation means weakening, so select choice (D).

(B) external , (D) minutiae

Start with the second blank, which refers to little things inside the structures: flower pots, sink fixtures, and working windows. The word in the blank, then, must mean something like details. Of the choices, only minutiae makes sense. Now work the first blank: The trigger while suggests you need a word that means the opposite of internal minutiae. Of the choices, external is the best fit. While august might be tempting, it’s too strong for the context: While the structures are important, there isn’t any indication that they’re inspiring reverence.

(A) a dillatante

Even if you do not know the words philately and numismatist, the clue is new hobby, with yet additional information provided by the opposite-direction time trigger had already become and associated clue expert. Therefore, the blank must mean something like amateur. None of philanderer, mentor, specialist, or eccentric means amateur, so eliminate choices (B), (C), (D), and (E). Dilettante means amateur, so select choice (A).

(A) clandestine , (D) obsolete

The clue for the first blank is that the language was created so the criminals could communicate without the authorities knowing what was going on. Thus, the missing word must mean something like secret.Of the choices, only clandestine fits. The clue for the second blank is that the language was widely used by criminals five hundred years ago, but the trigger although means you need a word that means the opposite of widely used. Of the choices, only obsolete makes sense.

(B) cherished

The same-direction semi-colon trigger and the clue bought tickets for all the show require that the blank mean something like loved. None of abhorred, owned, loathed, or managed means loved, so eliminate choices (A), (C), (D), and (E). Cherished means loved, so select choice (B).

(A) obstreperous

The clue made concentrating difficult requires that the blank mean something like noisy. None of quiescent, rapacious, enervated, or antagonistic means noisy, so eliminate choices (B), (C), (D), and (E). Obstreperous means noisy, so select choice (A).

(D) nebulous

The clues origins and the entire phrase following the comma requires that the blank mean something like uncertain. None of esoteric, ephemeral, apposite, or ubiquitous means uncertain, so eliminate choices (A), (B), (C), and (E). Nebulous means mysterious which is close enough to unknown, so select choice (D).

(A) squandered , (D) impugned

For the first blank, the clues that Garlin has a diminutive attention span and uncompleted projects require a word that means something like wasted. Evinced and burnished do not mean wasted, but squandered does. For the second blank, the opposite-direction trigger while and the clue venerating require a strong word such as scorned. Parried and defalcated do not mean scorned, but impugned does. Thus, select squandered and impugned.

(A) execrable , (D) an error to neglect , (H) mitigate the effects

The first blank describes the state of the city’s public schools; since the author is seeking remedies, something like bad would make sense in the blank. Of the choices, only execrable means bad. The second sentence lists elements that will play a vital role in the remedy, but the trigger while suggests more needs to be done; of the choices for the second blank, only an error to ignore allows this meaning. The final sentence is an example to reinforce this idea, and the blank describes what talented teachers would do to negative factors; of the choices, only mitigate the effects makes sense.

(A) apolitical , (E) free from , (I) subjectivity

This is a tricky passage. It talks about the controversies that surround history. It seems that even old history can still get people riled up and there are bound to be opposing views. As always, pay attention to trigger words. The second sentence says, and yet there are lots of different views. This is a change in direction, so one would think there would only be one view. So the second blank should say something like past or over. Free from works the best. Since everything is being argued, we need something negative or argumentative for the last blank.That knocks out mellifluousness and objectivity. The first blank speculates on whether or not historical arguments are ever over. Apolitical is the best stand-in for the end of arguments over history.