The easier blank to choose is the second one, for it indicates a kind of intensification from the adjectival phrase "attentive to details." The best option here is "fastidious," which means very attentive to details—an appropriate option! When a professor is so attentive to detail, it is likely that he will be called a "pedant," which describes just such an academic person.

The easier blank to choose is the second one, for it indicates a kind of intensification from the adjectival phrase "attentive to details." The best option here is "fastidious," which means very attentive to details—an appropriate option! When a professor is so attentive to detail, it is likely that he will be called a "pedant," which describes just such an academic person.

This sentence clearly makes a parallel between "succinct" and the second blank. The idea is that Frederick's statements appear to be short. That is, they appear to be rather brief. Hence, they have the appearance of "brevity"—meaning briefness. The word "pithy" can describe a dense part of fruit (the "pith"), but it can also mean short and expressive, describing language that pierces to its meaning directly. This seems to be an excellent description for Frederick's remarks—at least for how they appear.

In this sentence, "although" the wine aficionado performed the first blank's action towards Tori, he then "appreciated" her for other actions. In other words, he "appreciated" her in spite of whatever action he took towards her in the first blank. Therefore, "ameliorated," or soothed, doesn't quite fit, as "soothed" and "appreciated" are not quite opposites. "Rebuked," however, means reproved sharply; therefore, the later appreciation/approval that Tori receives makes "rebuked" fit the sentence.

Considering the second blank, the wine aficionado "appreciated" Tori for her doing something in regard to the opinions of a rival, so we know that Tori does not agree with that particular critic's opinions. Both "lambasting" and "vexation" are negative, but "lambasting" (thoroughly criticizing) requires direct action by Tori that can act on the opinions of the wine critic, whereas "vexation" means that Tori directly vexes (annoys/irritates) the wine critic's opinions, which doesn't make much sense grammatically.

Therefore, "rebuked . . . lambasting of" is the correct answer.

The best hint for this question is the small expression at the beginning of the closing subordinate clause—"discussing openly." The idea is that Maritain would discuss things in an "unfettered" manner. This is the meaning of the word "untrammeled." In contrast to being open in this manner, someone can be "reserved." When we are reserved with our words, we do not express our ideas in detail, and we avoid certain aspects of the topic being discussed. Reservation does not always indicate being frightened or deceptive. It is possible to be reserved out of a good intention.

The best clue in this sentence is "often wasting time on such unimportant matters." Thus, the second blank needs to be either "trivial" (meaning unimportant) or, perhaps, "jejune" (meaning superficial or uninteresting). The first blank, though, has to describe such an action of heeding trivial details to the point of wasting time. To "vacillate" is to go back and forth between two options; however, the sentence is saying something a bit different. Nigel seems to pay too much attention to the details. Thus, he fixates on them, becoming overly attached to them while he heeds them.

Clearly, for this question you are looking for a pair of synonyms. Almost every option has such a pairing, so be careful! Clearly, the lifestyle in question is an unhealthy one. The old man's unhealthy manner of living led him to have a body that was battered and ruined. Many of these options describe aging and being ill. Being old or ill is not really what we are looking for. We are looking for something that could be the cause of being ill in one's old age. A bad lifestyle, such as one that is debauched, could lead to this. Often, the word has the connotation of a moral failing. This is true, but it can generally describe how we live when we chase after all kinds of sensual pleasures. This option pairs well with "dissolute," which describes the kind of living one has when he or she has a life that totally falls apart with regard to behavior. (Hence, you can see how "dissolute", though a moral term, is related to "dissolve".)

We are not told much about John’s actions toward his students, other than the fact that he is staring at them. The implication is that he is staring very strongly at them—he is “not merely \[staring\].” The word “glower” means to scowl—a very strong sort of look. When someone "prattles," he or she talks at length foolishly or about things that are not important. This functions well for describing the students' actions, which so vexed John.

In this sentence, "although" the wine aficionado performed the first blank's action towards Tori, he then "appreciated" her for other actions. In other words, he "appreciated" her in spite of whatever action he took towards her in the first blank. Therefore, "ameliorated," or soothed, doesn't quite fit, as "soothed" and "appreciated" are not quite opposites. "Rebuked," however, means reproved sharply; therefore, the later appreciation/approval that Tori receives makes "rebuked" fit the sentence.

Considering the second blank, the wine aficionado "appreciated" Tori for her doing something in regard to the opinions of a rival, so we know that Tori does not agree with that particular critic's opinions. Both "lambasting" and "vexation" are negative, but "lambasting" (thoroughly criticizing) requires direct action by Tori that can act on the opinions of the wine critic, whereas "vexation" means that Tori directly vexes (annoys/irritates) the wine critic's opinions, which doesn't make much sense grammatically.

Therefore, "rebuked . . . lambasting of" is the correct answer.

Clearly, for this question you are looking for a pair of synonyms. Almost every option has such a pairing, so be careful! Clearly, the lifestyle in question is an unhealthy one. The old man's unhealthy manner of living led him to have a body that was battered and ruined. Many of these options describe aging and being ill. Being old or ill is not really what we are looking for. We are looking for something that could be the cause of being ill in one's old age. A bad lifestyle, such as one that is debauched, could lead to this. Often, the word has the connotation of a moral failing. This is true, but it can generally describe how we live when we chase after all kinds of sensual pleasures. This option pairs well with "dissolute," which describes the kind of living one has when he or she has a life that totally falls apart with regard to behavior. (Hence, you can see how "dissolute", though a moral term, is related to "dissolve".)