Correct Answer: perfidy

Explanation:

Clue: The word ‘betrayed’ is the clue. Since she betrayed someone she would be condemned for her treachery. ‘Perfidy’ is the best choice since it means treachery.
(truculence = stubbornness; serendipity = fortunate coincidence; pragmatism = practicality; discernment = judgment)

Correct Answer: C,D

Explanation:

‘But’ indicates the need for an opposite. He was ‘upset’ but was made less upset ‘consoled’ (comforted) by a conviction (belief) that he had not deserved the dismissal. Since ‘merit’ means deserve, this becomes the best choice.
(consoled = comforted; mar = spoil; miffed = annoyed)

Correct Answer: B,E

Explanation:

The sentence structure implies opposites are needed. (It will be hard to do something now that something else has happened.) Hence, it will be hard to ‘mollify’ (pacify or soothe) him now that you have so ‘incensed’ him. (These are the only suitable pair of ‘opposites’)
(indict = charge with an offense; lampoon = ridicule; incensed = made angry; subjugated = suppressed, bemused = confused)

Correct Answer: inclement ,inane, vacuous

Explanation:

Some kind of negative word is needed for the first blank as the weather forced us to stay indoors. Hence, the only suitable word is ‘inclement’. Inclement weather is stormy or unsuitable for going out in. The second and third blanks need to complement each other in meaning. If the games were ‘inane’ (silly or meaningless), then calling them ‘vacuous’ (devoid of meaning) makes perfect sense.
(restorative = invigorating; congenial = suitable, friendly)

Correct Answer: A,E

Explanation:

Starting with the second sentence, we see that calling a lead pencil by that name is obviously some kind of error as the sentence tells us that such pencils are filled with graphite. Hence, the word ‘misnomer’ is appropriate since it means ‘wrong name’. The first sentences tells us that such usages are ‘illogical’ and therefore we cannot say that they have evolved ‘rationally’. Of the remaining choices, ‘haphazardly’ (randomly) is the better word to agree with ‘illogical’ and make a meaningful sentence.
(misdemeanor = wrongdoing; euphemism = figure of speech in which polite words are used to disguise something bad; ab initio = from the beginning)

Correct Answer: C,D

Explanation:

Starting with the first blank we see two words that imply lack of confidence: ‘trepidation’ (fear) and ‘consternation’ (worry). Putting ‘fear’ in the first blank would not make a sensible sentence with any of the options for the second blank. However, if she paraded with ‘panache’ (in a confident and stylish manner) then we could say it was impossible to tell that this was her ‘first assignment’ as she was behaving so confidently. Remember what you end up with should be a perfectly logical sentence.
(gait = style of walking; persona = assumed personality)

Correct Answer: preeminent

Explanation:

The part after the semicolon tells us that Hawkins is highly respected. Hence, the only suitable word is ‘preeminent’. (All the others have negative connotations.)
(disparaged = criticized; ignominious = shameful; obsolete = outdated; anachronistic = in the wrong time period; preeminent = foremost, famous)

Correct Answer: specious, obviously untenable ,unconvinced

Explanation:

It is often a good idea to work backwards. In this case the fact that his demeanor was ‘unenthusiastic’ suggests that he did not have faith in his own argument. Hence the best word for the third blank is ‘unconvinced’. If ‘we were not fooled’, the plan was obviously not good and ‘obviously untenable’ works best for the second blank. Finally, his argument was not a good one and the only word for the first blank with clearly negative connotations is ‘specious’.
(specious = deceptive or misleading; cogent = well-expressed, clear = lucid; labyrinthine = complex and involved; untenable = cannot be supported/held; duped = fooled)

Correct Answer: jettisoned

Explanation:

To make the sentence logical, the crew would have to throw out sand bags if they wanted the balloon to rise. Hence, the word we need is ‘jettisoned’ (threw out).
(capsized = sank; salvaged = rescued; augmented = increased; enumerated = counted)