In this double-blank sentence, start with the first blanks since the verbs given for the first blanks may be more familiar to you.

The answer “endeavored . . . pilfer” sounds possible because the word endeavored means worked or planned but you might not know what pilfer means. Since the one word does work, key this answer for now.

“Feigned . . . revere” may seem impossible if you do not know what feigned means but revere sounds like reverent or reverence meaning praise. This sentence sounds like something went wrong due to the phrase “much to his dismay”.

“Collaborated . . . scam” might fit well because the sentence says “the eager collectors will negotiate, compete and cooperate” which is to collaborate. Even if you do not know that scam means fool or trick, keep this answer as a possibility.

“Declined . . . upbraid” starts out well since declined would be the opposite to what the sentence is explaining which fits with “much to his total dismay”. You may not know what upbraid means but keep this answer as a possibility.

“Conspired . . . reimburse”: Conspire does mean to work together as the sentence indicates but possibly in a negative way which also seems to work. But why would the collectors reimburse or pay the antiques dealer back his money?

Of all the possible answers offered, “collaborated . . . scam” seems to work best.

"Vacillate" means to waver, hesitate or be indecisive. "Interject" means to say something abruptly, especially as an interruption. The word "between" provides a strong clue that the boy was having a hard time deciding, and the end of the sentence provides a clue that the second word should involve interrupting the boy. So, "vacillated . . . interjected" is the correct answer because it best fits the context of the sentence.

For the first blank, we know that smelling brownies might encourage one to break a rule that states "no dessert before dinner," so Sam must have found it difficult to listen to that rule. So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "listen." Either "adhere" ("stick fast to a surface or substance," "believe in and follow the practices of," or "represent truthfully and in detail") or "obey" ("behave in accordance with") could be correct. For the second blank, we need to pick a verb that can describe the movement of a scent in the air; either "wafted" ("passed or caused to pass easily or gently through or as if through the air") or "drifted" ("be carried slowly by a current of air or water") could be correct. Of the possible words that we've identified as potentially correct for each blank, only "adhere" and "wafted" appear in the same answer choice, so the correct answer is "adhere . . . wafted."

The verbs in this sentence need to make sense in each other's context—so, although "to stack" and "to create" have the proper meaning, they are not grammatically sound options. Out of the rest of the possible answers, "heaps . . . generating" makes the most sense, since it means to put the cupcakes in a pile and then create a mess.

Given that neither party is remaining silent, clearly the argument is happening in the open. Therefore, the options for “simmering” and “smoldering” are likely inapplicable for the specific needs. Now, the sense is that each party in the argument is trying to outdo the other one by way of insults. Such an argument, continually becoming more heated and worse, is best said to be “escalating.” The word is related to “escalator,” indicating that something is “going upward,” generally in the metaphorical sense of “becoming more intense.”

If this restaurant's popularity has increased, we would expect it to be difficult to reserve a table for the same night; conversely, if its popularity has declined, it would be relatively easy to get a same-day reservation. The end of the sentence ("we were able to") tells us that the latter scenario (diminished popularity/ better odds of getting a reservation) is the case here. For the first blank, either "waned" or "ebbed" would fit, as these are synonyms meaning decreased. "Secure" and "procure" in the second blank would both mean that you were able to obtain a reservation. "Proffer" (offer) would not make sense. Thus, the pairing of waned/secure is the correct answer.

For this sentence, the general sense is that the gold was removed from stones in which it was mixed with other metals. Of all the possible options, the “melting, mixed” pair is perhaps the most tempting. This is a trap, for the sentence provides no hints regarding the process of this removal. The best option is “extracting” for removal, for it literally means “to draw (or drag) out.” The word “tractor” comes from the same root word in Latin, and there are many other related English words like “attract,” “detract,” and “contract.” The word “alloyed” means “mixed” as in the metal brass, which is an “alloy” of copper and zinc.

As you begin to think about this sentence, try using some of your own words in the blanks to understand the meaning of the sentence: The scientists doubted the credibility that such an offering would help literacy in general.

The meaning seems to be based on cause and effect: whatever word the first blank needs, and notice that the answer choices for the first blank are all verbs, is related to the word needed in the second blank. So we need two action words that form a cause and effect relationship.

The answer choice, extolled . . . denigrate, offers words that begin with prefixes indicating “out”, “down” or “away” as in expel, excommunicate, deny or debase. Yet the words excellent, extend and extrovert are positive words so perhaps the first word could work but we may be unsure about the second one.

“Touted . . . invigorate” seems possible since the first word sounds like shouted, tooted or hooted which mean something similar to celebrated. “Invigorate” includes the noun “vigor” which sounds like vigorous and vigilant indicating life and alertness. This seems like the best answer.

The answer “mitigated . . . squander” does not seem to fit well since “mitigated” is a word sometimes heard in legal discussions and sounds like meeting or to moderate. The word “squander” sounds like wander, which could be just coincidence, but it does indicate the negative action of wastefulness.

“Equivocated . . . quagmire” is interesting because the root “equi” indicates balance which may suggest that the scientists were trying to assess the balance of the interdisciplinary offering. Yet “equivocated” usually means to mislead in a negative direction. “Quagmire” sounds like quandary which is a problem or question. It also includes “mire”; to be mired down means to get bogged down. Let’s keep looking.

“Denigrated . . . enmesh” sounds like a negative answer since “deni” seems very like deny and the prefix “en” means surround as in enclose, envelope or entertain.

Although "to hate" and "to cultivate" are both appropriate words, however the verb tense is not proper grammar for the context of the sentence. The other options do not make sense with the sentence structure, so the correct answer, which give the sentence the correct meaning, is "despised . . . motivated," since "to despise" means to hate or strongly dislike, while "to motivate" means to encourage or push to do something.

For the first blank, we need to pick out a word that means something like "steal," because we know that the sentence concerns a "thief" and thieves are likely to steal treasures. Either "finagled" ("obtained something by devious or dishonest means") or "purloined" ("stole something") could be potentially correct. For the second blank, we know that the thief does not approve of his nephew's decision to become a thief, because "he just didn't want to see his nephew get into any trouble with the law." So, we need to pick out a verb that means something like "support," because we know that the thief could not support his nephew's decision. Either "condone" ("accept and allow behavior that is considered morally wrong or offensive to continue") or "approve of" could be potentially correct. Of the possible words that we've identified as potentially correct for each blank, only "finagled" and "condone" appear in the same answer choice, so the correct answer is "finagled . . . condone."