The disinterest of the students is the best clue for assessing this situation. Likely, they are staring back at the professor with empty and disengaged stares. These could be called "indolent," indicating a kind of laziness. It would be better to look for something that more directly indicates the lack of interest. The word "passive" works well in this case, as it helps us to imagine the students staring back without really any external reaction on their faces whatsoever. The professor seems to want them merely to talk about anything whatsoever. That means that she would like them to engage her in a conversation on any topic. To be engaged does not only have to deal with getting married! It can merely mean "to be involved with in some way."

“Incite” and “goad” denote encouraging or prompting to action. If the patient's doctor had given him pills to trigger symptoms, then the patient needs to switch physicians. “Ancillary” describes something that aids or provides support. “Alleviate” means to lessen or make something easier. “Ancillary . . . alleviate” is the correct answer.

The philosopher seems to have expressed his or her theory in some manner. It would also be possible to say that he or she held the opinion. None of the options are about the actual having of the opinion. Therefore, it is better to focus on words pertaining to expressing it.

Now, "divulged" and "promulgated" both have to do with expressing something. Divulging something deals with telling private information, and promulgations usually happen in official affairs (or at least with more fanfare than is indicated in this sentence). Thus, the word "propounded" is the best option, as it means expressed for consideration.

As regards reality being a shadow that will pass away, the word "evanescent" describes something that will fade away in this manner. Something that is "evanescent" is something that will not last for a long period of time.

The words in the blanks must have dissimilar meanings since the two phrases are separated by the word “but.” “Enervated” means drained of energy, so it is dissimilar to “urgent” and, unlike “distracted,” it is a state that is likely to be caused by a monotonous voice.

“Bawdy” has a negative connotation, but it doesn’t fit here. The definition of “bawdy” is inappropriate or obscene. “Discombobulated” and “absquatulate” are pseudo-Latin words that may sound complex, but their definitions are simple. “Discombobulated” means confused. “Absquatulate” means to run off with something. Together, these form the correct answer.

For the first blank, we need an adjective that means something like secretive. Either "enigmatic" (difficult to interpret or understand; mysterious) or "taciturn" (reserved or uncommunicative in speech; saying little) could work.

For the second blank, we need a verb that means to reveal only a small part of, since the master thief kept most of the details of his plan to himself. In choosing between "precipitate" (cause something (usually something bad) to happen suddenly, unexpectedly, or prematurely) and "adumbrate" (to suggest, disclose, or outline partially), "adumbrate" is the better choice, so the answer is "enigmatic . . . adumbrate."

The key phrase is "although . . ." and the sense of the juxtaposition is completed by "they often end by creating wholly cynical citizens." The sense is that the regimes begin by making the citizens very engaged, but they end in destroying this civic involvement; therefore, we can immediately eliminate "increase . . . inviting", "coup . . . deceiving," "waxing . . . leading", and "waning . . . discouraging." The best fit is "decline . . . inciting" because it captures the sense of the loss of spirit as well as its initial inspiration (even if through incitement).

There is a sentence shift in the first part of the sentence. We know that the first blank must have a definition very different from “applauded.” Due to “atrocious acts,” we can further deduce that the verb is along the lines of regarding with extreme aversion. Since these “atrocious acts” could in no way unify the two countries, “abhorred . . . estrange “ is the correct answer.

The answer choice with “eschew” might look reasonable. Given the context, however, it doesn’t quite fit that the martyrs were told shun their faith, the way you might avoid something morally wrong. “Exculpate” means to pardon, which could make sense if the martyrs had done something against church doctrine in the past. “Canonize” in this case means to declare a dead person to be a saint, and “abjure” means to swear off. These two form the correct answer.

The best clue for starting this question is "only the tiniest quantity of vapor." It seemed that the inlet for the pipe could allow in only a small quantity of gas. However, it seems that more had happened—for Heather was surprised at something. The general idea is that gas had spread throughout the house. Hence, "diffused" is an excellent first choice, and "emitting" well describes the general act of allowing a substance to "go forth" (as would happen with the gas coming out of the pipe). ("Emit" comes from Latin roots literally meaning to send forth. To "trans-mit" means to send ("-mit") across ("trans-").)