When someone overprotects their child (or someone else in general), such action is known as “coddling.” This word best matches the key phrase “such constant protection.” The second blank is best filled by the word “consequences” because the other options do not capture the sense of “importance” that often is associated with the word “consequence.” The only really tempting trap word is “effects,” which does carry the extra moral weight that “consequences” does.

The second blank is perhaps easier to fill. The indication is that the teacher wants to become more certain about the itinerary of the trip. The "itinerary" is the plan for the trip. Thus, it is best to say that he wants to review these details to increase his certainty. The best option for reviewing is "examine." Based on the confidence of this second blank, you can be reassured that the first blank functions well in the sentence. It is completely arguable that the opening clause is talking about the itinerary being established. The word "agenda" is often used to describe the plan for a meeting, but the word can also be used to describe a plan or list of things that need to be done.

For the first word, we know that Karen could complete her projects in less time than most engineers because "she focused on even the tiniest of details when she worked," so we can infer that we need to pick out a word that means something like "the quality of being detail-oriented." Either "scrupulousness" ("diligence, thoroughness, and extreme attentiveness to details") or "meticulousness" ("the quality of showing great attention to detail; extreme care and precision") could be potentially correct. For the second blank, we know that Karen was able to complete her projects "ahead of schedule," so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "speed up" or "work ahead on." Either "expedite" ("make an action or process happen sooner or be accomplished more quickly") or "accelerate" ("to hasten the progress or development of") could be correct. Of the potentially correct answers we've identified, only "scrupulousness" and "expedite" appear in a single answer choice, so "scrupulousness . . . expedite" is the correct answer.

As one ages (and becomes tired), they can be said to be in a state of “dotage,” meaning that they are old and weak. To step down from rule is to “abdicate” from it.

For the first blank, we know that the specified patients were "kept away from the others," so we need to pick out a verb that means something like "kept away from others." Either "quarantined" ("imposed isolation on (a person, animal, or place); put in quarantine") or "isolated" ("caused (a person or place) to be or remain alone or apart from others") could be correct. For the second blank, we need to pick out a noun that means something like "a contagious disease," because we know that "the doctors suspected that disease that they were all suffering from could . . . infect everyone in the surrounding area if proper precautions were not taken." Either "epidemic" ("a widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a community at a particular time") or "outbreak" ("the sudden or violent start of something unwelcome, such as war or disease") could be correct. Of the possible words that we've identified as potentially correct for each blank, only "quarantined" and "epidemic" appear in the same answer choice, so the correct answer is "quarantined . . . epidemic."

Since the concern here is with removing something that seems to increase the time of an undertaking, such an intervening object is an “impediment,” which means an obstruction. To “expedite” something is to make it occur more quickly. Both words come from the Latin word for “foot” (This is reflected in the “-ped-” portion of the stem, not to be confused with the “ped” in words like “pediatric” and “pediatrician,” which have different roots). An “impediment” is something placed on (im+) the foot (so to speak), and to “expedite” is to remove something from the foot or away from its path (at least taken literally).

We can infer that for the first blank, we need to pick out a noun that means something like "look," because it is described as "mischievous" and it "appear\[s\] in her eyes." Either "gleam" ("of an emotion or quality: appear or be expressed through the brightness of someone's eyes or expression") or "spark" ("a trace of a specified quality or intense feeling") could be potentially correct. For the second blank, we need to pick out a verb that means something like "stop," because while the male subject "knew that they were going to get into trouble," he could not stop "such an outcome." Either "prevent" (" keep (something) from happening or arising") or "preclude" ("prevent from happening; make impossible") could be correct. Of the possible words that we've identified as potentially correct for each blank, only "gleam" and "prevent" appear in the same answer choice in the correct order, so the correct answer is "gleam . . . prevent."

Since the story was blurred in the child's memory, we can guess that he had forgotten many of its details. The sentence really does not justify choosing "image," which is too specific. We remember many more things than images—like feelings, estimations, as well as other details. (Likewise, we are given no clues that would justify holding that he was drawing the memory.) Clearly, he is calling the event back from memory, so the general verb "recounting" adequately expresses an action of retelling the event.

A "litigant" is someone involved in a lawsuit, while to "manifest" means, in this instance, to show plainly. Arguably, a sweating and presumably nervous litigant would reveal himself to be guilty.

We can tell from the context of the sentence that for the first blank, we're looking for a verb that means something like "praising." Of the available choices, either "describing" or "extolling" ("praising enthusiastically") could work. For the second blank, we need a noun that describes something that is supposedly able to cure lots of problems. Either "cure-all" or "panacea" ("a solution or remedy for all difficulties or diseases") could be correct. Of the possible words that we've identified as potentially correct for each blank, only "extolling" and "panacea" appear in the same answer choice, so the correct answer is "extolling . . . panacea."