(A) sycophants

With the opposite-direction trigger though, and the clue that Dan wanted honest criticism, the blank can mean something like yesmen. None of pedants, benefactors, adversaries, or mavericks means yes-men, so eliminate choices (B), (C), (D), and (E). Sycophants means yes-men, so select choice (A).

(E) apotheosized

Despite the use of the word although, the structure of this sentence, including the colon, makes clear that you need a word that goes in the same direction as the clue. Whether you look to known or the phrase after the colon (or both), the blank must mean something like recognized. None of relegated, abrogated, annulled, or criticized means recognized, so eliminate choices (A), (B), (C), and (D). Someone who is positively recognized for something would be apotheosized, so select choice (E).

(C) evokes

The clue is the CD is similar to the painting, so you can fill the blank with something like reminds people of. None of obfuscates, disenchants, or sanctions means reminds people of, so eliminate choices (B), (D), and (E). Although the designer of the CD may admire the painting, the CD itself does not. Moreover, admires does not mean reminds people of. Evokes means reminds people of, so eliminate choice (A) and select choice (C).

(B) anomalies , (E) daunting , (I) authoritative

For the first blank, recycle the clue differences. Of the choices, only anomalies means differences. The second blank relates how these differences affect the task of literary scholars, so a word like difficult or challenging would make sense. Of the choices, only daunting makes sense. The third blank describes the type of texts that such differences would make so challenging, so a word that means genuine or authentic would make sense. Of the choices, authoritative is the best fit.

(B) touted

The clue is that Klemfuss created Secretaries’ Day, so he must have appreciated the value and significance of administrative assistants. None of proscribed, refuted, undermined, or admonished means appreciated, so eliminate choices (A), (C), (D), and (E). Although touted does not—strictly speaking—mean appreciated, a person touts only something that is appreciated, so select choice (B).

(A) distinction between , (E) interchangeably

For the first blank, the clues difference and has become unimportant require something like difference between. Similarity of and usefulness of do not mean difference between;distinction between does. For the second blank, the opposite-direction trigger but and the clue difference require something like similar. Statistically and differentially do not mean similar, but interchangeably does. Select distinction between and interchangeably.

(B) renowned

With the opposite direction trigger but in fact, you can recycle the opposite of the descriptive clue much less well-known, by filling the blank with well-known. None of contingent, cogent, or insistent means well-known, so eliminate choices (C), (D), and (E). Infamous means well-known, but in a negative way, so eliminate choice (A). Renowned means well-known, so select choice (B).

(A) remote , (D) corroboration

The astronomers have discovered objects at the edges of the universe, so you need a word that is consistent with that clue. Paranormal means beyond the scope of scientific understanding; it is usually used to describe supernatural things like aliens and ghosts. Viscous means fluid or sticky, so that word is definitely not consistent with the blank. Remote means distant, which would describe objects at the edges of the universe. The quasars have shown scientists something about the existence of stars, so blank (ii) must mean something like proof. Distortion means changing, so that word is not consistent with the blank. Intuition is a feeling that something is true, but not actual proof. Corroboration means proof, and so it is a good fit for blank (ii).

(A) initiative , (F) strive

Lisa is frustrated by her husband’s lack of something, so that something must be good. Lassitude is the quality of being lazy or lacking in energy, which is not a good quality.Eloquence, or being skilled in the use of language is a positive quality, but the lack of eloquence would not likely be something that a wife would :nd frustrating. Initiative means ambition, a positive quality for a person to have.To motivate a person who lacks initiative, one must encourage him to try to do things.To mitigate means to make a problem better, which isn’t quite what you’re looking for. To invigorate means to give life to something, and there’s no indication in the sentence that the husband is expected to give life to anything. To strive means to aim for; a person with a lack of initiative should try to aim for things, so this word is a good fit for the blank.

(E) temperaments

If you notice the same direction trigger so too, you can recycle the clue personalities for the blank. None of initiations,implementations, or rationalizations means personalities, so eliminate choices (A), (B), and (D). Although aptitudes means skills, which pets can have, it does not directly relate to the clue in the sentence, personalities. So eliminate choice (C), and select choice (E).