After three failed test launches and an empty budget, the rocket club decided to [drop] its plan entirely and put its last few dollars toward a robotics kit instead.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: abandon / postpone / revise / suspend	abandon — "Abandon" means to give up on something completely, which matches "entirely" and moving the money to a different project. "Postpone" and "suspend" mean pausing to return later, and "revise" means changing the plan, not giving it up.
The rumor that the principal would replace every desk with a trampoline was so [weird] that students laughed out loud; the idea made no sense at all for a classroom.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: absurd / peculiar / unconventional / surprising	absurd — "Absurd" means so silly that it makes no sense, which matches the laughter and "made no sense at all." "Peculiar" only means odd, and "unconventional" suggests a different idea that might still work.
After a winter of record snowfall, the valley's water supply was [good] all year, though muddy with runoff: farmers flooded every field, and the reservoir still spilled over its banks.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: seasonal / adequate / abundant / pristine	abundant — "Abundant" means more than enough, which fits flooded fields and a reservoir that still spilled over; "adequate" means only just enough, "pristine" clashes with the muddy runoff, and "seasonal" clashes with "all year."
Each time a storm rolled through the windless valley, soft, powdery snow [stayed] on the cabin roof, one layer piling on top of the last, until by March it was four feet deep.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: drifted / lingered / accumulated / hardened	accumulated — "Accumulated" means piled up little by little, matching layer after layer building to four feet; "lingered" only means stayed around, not grew, "drifted" needs wind, and "hardened" clashes with "soft, powdery."
Although he had defended his call all game, after watching the video replay the referee [said] that he had been wrong and apologized to both teams.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: maintained / insisted / acknowledged / alleged	acknowledged — "Acknowledged" means admitted that something is true, which fits a referee who had defended his call and now says he was wrong. "Insisted" and "maintained" mean holding firmly to a position, the opposite of what he finally does here.
The director [changed] the old fairy tale for the stage, keeping it in English and keeping every character, but turning the narrator's lines into songs and moving the forest scenes to a city park, all without poking fun at the story.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: abridged / translated / parodied / adapted	adapted — "Adapted" means reworked to fit a new form, like turning narration into songs for the stage; "translated" is ruled out by "keeping it in English," "abridged" by keeping every character, and "parodied" by "without poking fun."
On the first morning of camp, the director [talked to] all two hundred campers from the stage in a short, cheerful speech of welcome.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: addressed / consulted / lectured / interviewed	addressed — "Addressed" means spoke formally to a group, which fits a speech from the stage. "Lectured" suggests a long or scolding talk, not a short, cheerful welcome, and "interviewed" and "consulted" involve back-and-forth questions.
Members of the environmental club [talked about] a ban on plastic straws in the cafeteria, collecting three hundred signatures and presenting a proposal to the principal.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: debated / investigated / discussed / advocated	advocated — "Advocated" means publicly supported, which fits collecting signatures and presenting a proposal. "Debated" and "discussed" mean talking over both sides, which does not show that the club was pushing for the ban.
Marcus's greatest [want], which he had never shared with anyone and which no one had ever asked of him, was to become the first person in his family to graduate from college, and he studied every night for four years to make it happen.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: obligation / pledge / whim / ambition	ambition — "Ambition" is a strong, lasting desire to achieve something hard, which fits four years of nightly study; a "whim" would not last four years, an "obligation" is ruled out because no one asked it of him, and a "pledge" is a promise made to others, but he never shared it.
Long before the first flake fell, the city [thought about] the blizzard, sending salt trucks onto the highways and parking plows at every major intersection.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: pondered / imagined / anticipated / forecast	anticipated — "Anticipated" means expected something and got ready for it, which fits sending trucks and plows ahead of time. "Forecast" means only to predict, and "imagined" and "pondered" mean only to think, with no preparing.
As the hurricane crept closer to the coast, the [upset] residents boarded up their windows and kept checking the news for updates on its path.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: anxious / indignant / mournful / sullen	anxious — "Anxious" means worried about something that might happen, which fits people tracking a storm that has not arrived yet. "Indignant" means angry at unfair treatment, and "mournful" means sad over a loss that has already happened.
The damage from the leak was [there] to anyone who walked into the basement: water stains covered the walls, and the carpet squished underfoot.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: puzzling / familiar / significant / apparent	apparent — "Apparent" means easy to see, which fits stains and a soaked carpet that anyone would notice at once. "Familiar" would mean visitors had seen it before, and "puzzling" is ruled out because the cause, a leak, is plain.
After the judges disqualified their runner, the coaches formally [went] to the league officials, asking them to review the race video and overturn the decision.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: deferred / appealed / submitted / reported	appealed — "Appealed" means made a serious request to a higher authority to change a decision, which fits asking officials to overturn it. "Deferred" and "submitted" mean gave in to the officials, which is the reverse of challenging their ruling.
Only after hauling the canoe two miles uphill to the lake did the campers truly [get] how heavy it was.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: estimate / predict / appreciate / measure	appreciate — To "appreciate" here means to fully understand, which fits learning the canoe's weight by carrying it. "Estimate" and "predict" are guesses made beforehand, but the sentence says "only after hauling," and no one used a scale to "measure" it.
Despite the critics' doubts, the scientist calmly [said], with no hint of bragging, that her new battery would last twice as long as any on the market, and she offered to prove it in a live test.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: boasted / speculated / conceded / asserted	asserted — "Asserted" means stated firmly and confidently, which fits a claim she offered to prove; "speculated" is too unsure, "boasted" is ruled out by "no hint of bragging," and "conceded" means admitting a point to opponents, but here she is standing against the critics.
Because the lights were off, Nadia silently [figured], without calling out or checking a single room, that no one was home, and she happily kicked off her shoes; her cousins, though, were hiding behind the couch for a surprise party.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: feared / announced / verified / assumed	assumed — "Assumed" means supposed something was true without proof, and she was wrong; "verified" is ruled out by "without checking a single room," "announced" by "silently," and "feared" by her happily kicking off her shoes.
Experts declared the letter [real]: the ink, the paper, and the handwriting all matched samples written by the general himself in 1776.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: authentic / official / accurate / historic	authentic — "Authentic" means genuine, not a fake, which is exactly what matching the general's own samples proves. "Accurate" would mean the letter's facts are correct, but the experts tested the ink and handwriting, not the facts.
After the two friends argued, the silence at the lunch table felt [weird]; everyone stared at their trays, and no one knew what to say.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: eerie / mysterious / awkward / solemn	awkward — "Awkward" means uncomfortable and embarrassing, which fits people staring at their trays and not knowing what to say. "Eerie" means creepy, "solemn" means serious and dignified, and nothing about the silence is "mysterious" since everyone knows about the argument.
The screech of the subway brakes was so painful to Ana that she could not [take] it for more than one stop, so she now wears headphones on every ride.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: notice / resist / bear / recall	bear — To "bear" means to put up with something unpleasant, which fits a painful sound Ana could stand for only one stop. "Resist" would mean holding back from wanting the sound, which makes no sense here, and she clearly does "notice" it.
Living right next to the park has one practical [plus] for our family: we can walk the dog every morning without crossing a single busy street.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: privilege / benefit / luxury / reward	benefit — A "benefit" is a helpful result or advantage, which fits the everyday convenience of a nearby park. A "reward" is earned by effort, and a "luxury" is an expensive extra, but this advantage simply comes with the location.
The contest judge refused to score the mystery entries, explaining that her lifelong fondness for the genre gave her [a problem]: without meaning to, she would rate those stories higher than they deserved, even though she could judge them with full attention.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: an obsession / a grudge / a bias / a distraction	a bias — "A bias" is an unfair leaning for or against something, here toward stories she loves; "a grudge" is ruled out because she would rate them higher, not lower, "a distraction" by "full attention," and "an obsession" is far too strong for a fondness.
After weeks of practicing what to say, the shy new student did something [big]: she stood up at the assembly and asked the principal to start a chess club.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: rebellious / bold / reckless / impulsive	bold — "Bold" means brave and willing to take a risk, which fits a shy student speaking up in front of the whole school. "Impulsive" is ruled out by "weeks of practicing," and "reckless" and "rebellious" are too negative for a polite request.
Before the game, the coach kept her pep talk [small], just two sentences long, and then sent the players onto the court.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: quiet / humble / modest / brief	brief — "Brief" means short in length, which matches "just two sentences long." "Modest" and "humble" describe an attitude, and "quiet" describes volume, but the detail in the sentence is about length.
Though she had never cooked for a crowd before, Priya proved [good] in the kitchen, serving a three-course dinner to forty guests without a single burned dish.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: capable / confident / experienced / eager	capable — "Capable" means having the skill to do something, which is what "proved" and the flawless dinner show. "Experienced" is ruled out because she had never cooked for a crowd, and "eager" and "confident" describe feelings, not proven skill.
Because the ice on the pond was thin, the skaters were [slow]: alert and steady-nerved, they tested each step before putting their full weight down, with none of the relaxed gliding of a carefree afternoon.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: sluggish / leisurely / timid / cautious	cautious — "Cautious" means careful to avoid danger, which fits testing each step on thin ice; "sluggish" clashes with "alert," "leisurely" with "none of the relaxed gliding," and "timid" means lacking courage, which clashes with "steady-nerved."
Our chess teacher likes to [ask] her strongest students to solve puzzles a full level above their rating, just to see whether they can rise to it.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: challenge / appoint / permit / remind	challenge — To "challenge" means to invite someone to try something difficult, which fits puzzles above a student's level and seeing if they "rise to it." "Permit" means only to allow, and "remind" and "appoint" do not suggest a test of skill.
A wall of sandbags [held] the rising river for a few hours, not stopping it but slowing it just long enough for families to drive to higher ground.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: absorbed / checked / halted / diverted	checked — To "check" can mean to slow or hold back, which fits "not stopping it but slowing it." "Halted" means stopped completely, which the sentence rules out, and "diverted" means sent in another direction.
Long after he retired, the old ballplayer still [liked] the letter a young fan wrote him in 1962, keeping it above his desk and rereading it whenever he felt low.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: acknowledged / recalled / admired / cherished	cherished — "Cherished" means loved and valued deeply, which fits keeping the letter close and turning to it for comfort. "Admired" means thought well of, which is too cool for something he rereads whenever he feels low.
When the students looked puzzled, the teacher [went over] the directions by drawing a simple diagram on the board.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: clarified / revised / repeated / summarized	clarified — "Clarified" means made clearer, which fits drawing a diagram for puzzled students. "Repeated" means said again the same way, and "summarized" means shortened, but a diagram makes the directions easier to understand.
After days of heavy rain, the old barn's roof [went] inward all at once, crushing the hay bales stored beneath it.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: sagged / tilted / collapsed / leaned	collapsed — "Collapsed" means fell down suddenly and completely, which fits "all at once" and the crushed hay. "Sagged" means sank slowly, and "tilted" and "leaned" mean only tipped, none of which would crush the bales.
As the storm approached, the ship's captain [told] the crew to lower the sails immediately, and no one dared to question her.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: urged / advised / reminded / commanded	commanded — "Commanded" means gave an order with authority, which fits "immediately" and a crew that did not dare question her. "Urged" and "advised" suggest the crew could choose, and "reminded" suggests they already knew.
After the tryout, Leo [said yes] to the team for the whole season, promising to show up at every six a.m. practice until the championship.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: committed / belonged / returned / applied	committed — "Committed" means promised his time and effort, which fits "promising to show up at every" practice. "Applied" comes before a tryout, and "belonged" describes membership, not a promise.
Rising rent [pushed] the bookstore owner to close her shop after thirty years, even though she had hoped to run it until she retired.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: persuaded / tempted / inspired / compelled	compelled — "Compelled" means forced someone to do something, which fits closing a shop she wanted to keep open. "Tempted," "persuaded," and "inspired" all suggest she came to want to close, which the sentence rules out.
The city's subway map, printed clearly on a single pocket-size card, looks [hard] at first glance: dozens of colored lines cross, split, and rejoin, yet each one follows a careful, logical plan.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: complex / enormous / obscure / chaotic	complex — "Complex" means made of many connected parts, like lines that cross, split, and rejoin; "chaotic" is ruled out by the "careful, logical plan," "enormous" by the pocket-size card, and "obscure" (unclear) by "printed clearly."
Over the summer, Ellis [made] a piano piece from scratch for his sister's wedding and then performed it at the reception.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: arranged / composed / rehearsed / transcribed	composed — "Composed" means created music, which fits a piece made "from scratch." "Arranged" and "transcribed" mean reworking or writing down music that already exists, and "rehearsed" means practiced, not created.
Neither club would give up its Friday slot in the gym, so the principal offered [an idea]: chess would meet the first and third Fridays, and robotics the second and fourth.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: a concession / an ultimatum / a compromise / a verdict	a compromise — "A compromise" is an agreement in which each side gives up part of what it wants, which fits splitting the Fridays. "A concession" is something only one side gives up, and "a verdict" picks a winner, but here both clubs give a little.
Theo tried to [cover] his disappointment with a smile when his name was missing from the team list, but his eyes gave him away.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: conceal / soothe / overcome / dismiss	conceal — To "conceal" means to hide, which fits a smile that hides his feelings until "his eyes gave him away." "Overcome" and "soothe" mean to get past or calm a feeling, but the sentence is about keeping it from showing.
After studying the size and spacing of the tracks in the mud, the ranger, who had spent the night miles away, privately [thought], to her dismay, that a black bear had passed through the campsite.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: announced / concluded / hoped / remembered	concluded — "Concluded" means decided after weighing the facts, which fits studying the tracks; "hoped" clashes with "to her dismay," "announced" with "privately," and "remembered" is impossible because she was miles away that night.
Each spring, the biology class [does] a survey of the birds nesting in the park, counting every species the students can identify.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: publishes / conducts / requests / reviews	conducts — "Conducts" means carries out, which fits students actually counting the birds. "Publishes" and "reviews" deal with a survey that is already finished, and "requests" means asking someone else to do it.
Instead of hiding from her fear of heights, Zoe [met] it head-on by signing up for a rock-climbing class before she could change her mind.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: overcame / confronted / accepted / analyzed	confronted — "Confronted" means faced directly, which fits "head-on" and signing up for climbing. "Overcame" is tempting, but signing up is only the first step; she has not beaten the fear yet.
Kai learned that skipping three practices in a row came with a serious [result]: he had to sit out the championship game.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: risk / warning / sacrifice / consequence	consequence — A "consequence" is an effect of an action, often an unpleasant one, which fits having to sit out the game. A "risk" or "warning" is only a possibility, but "he had to sit out" means it really happened, and a "sacrifice" is something given up by choice.
Exactly as planners promised, the new subway line will save commuters [a good amount of] time, and riders are thrilled: trips that once took fifty minutes will take only twenty.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: excessive / modest / unexpected / considerable	considerable — "Considerable" means large in amount, which fits cutting fifty minutes to twenty; "modest" is too small for that, "excessive" suggests too much and clashes with thrilled riders, and "unexpected" clashes with "exactly as planners promised."
The corner bakery's bread is [good] day after day: every loaf comes out the same size, color, and crust, whether it is baked on a Monday or a Saturday.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: exceptional / flawless / consistent / traditional	consistent — "Consistent" means staying the same over time, which fits loaves that are identical every day. "Exceptional" and "flawless" describe how good the bread is, and "traditional" describes an old style, but the details are all about it never changing.
In a single night, a swarm of locusts can [go through] every leaf in a wheat field, leaving only bare stalks behind by morning.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: sample / nibble / trample / consume	consume — To "consume" means to eat or use up completely, which fits "every leaf" and "only bare stalks." "Nibble" and "sample" mean eating only a little, and "trample" means crushing, not eating.
After a long day of hiking, the campers were [fine] to sit by the fire and watch the stars, wanting nothing more than the quiet.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: determined / content / impatient / eager	content — "Content" means satisfied with what you have, which fits campers "wanting nothing more." "Eager," "determined," and "impatient" all suggest a strong push toward something, not calm satisfaction.
The feathered skeleton dug up in Montana, though younger than the Asian fossils, [goes against] the long-held belief that feathered dinosaurs lived only in Asia; it does not just add a wrinkle to the idea, it shows the idea is wrong.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: predates / clarifies / contradicts / complicates	contradicts — "Contradicts" means shows the opposite to be true, which fits proving the idea wrong; "complicates" is ruled out by "does not just add a wrinkle," "predates" by the skeleton being younger, and "clarifies" would mean making the belief clearer, not disproving it.
Each family [gave] twenty dollars to the class fund, and together they bought a telescope for the science room.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: owed / contributed / invested / lent	contributed — "Contributed" means gave to help a shared goal, which fits families pooling money for a telescope. "Lent" and "invested" mean expecting the money back or a profit, which does not fit a gift to the class.
Without saying a word, the dancer [showed] deep grief through her slow, heavy movements, so clearly that several people in the audience wiped their eyes.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: exaggerated / rehearsed / conveyed / imitated	conveyed — "Conveyed" means communicated a feeling to others, which fits an audience moved to tears. "Imitated" and "exaggerated" suggest copying or overdoing the feeling, but the sentence stresses how clearly it reached the audience.
For one weekend the two rival bakeries agreed to [get along], sharing a single booth at the street fair and splitting the profits evenly.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: negotiate / reconcile / coexist / cooperate	cooperate — To "cooperate" means to work together toward a shared goal, which fits sharing a booth and splitting profits. "Coexist" means only living side by side, and "reconcile" means making peace for good, not just for one weekend.
Drinking enough water is [pretty important] for marathon runners, who can lose several quarts of sweat in one race and collapse without it.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: popular / beneficial / crucial / customary	crucial — "Crucial" means extremely important or necessary, which fits a danger as serious as collapsing. "Beneficial" means only helpful, which is too weak for something runners cannot do without.
On the rooftop of their Queens apartment building, the neighbors [do] tomatoes, peppers, and basil from seed each spring, watering and weeding the raised beds until the plants are ready to pick in August.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: preserve / cultivate / transplant / harvest	cultivate — To "cultivate" means to grow and care for plants over time, which fits raising them from seed and tending them all season. "Harvest" is only the final step, and "preserve" means storing food after picking.
The [interested] toddler pulled every pot out of the cabinet, determined to find out what was making the rattling noise inside.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: restless / curious / mischievous / playful	curious — "Curious" means eager to find out, which matches "determined to find out" what made the noise. "Mischievous" suggests making trouble on purpose, but the toddler's goal is discovery, not mischief.
The number of public pay phones on city sidewalks has [gone down] gradually and steadily over the past twenty years, with fewer remaining each year as more people carry cell phones.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: declined / plunged / fluctuated / stalled	declined — "Declined" means became fewer over time, which fits a steady twenty-year drop; "fluctuated" clashes with "steadily," "plunged" means a sudden steep fall and clashes with "gradually," and "stalled" clashes with fewer remaining each year.
The author [gave] her first novel to her grandmother, printing "For Abuela, who taught me to tell stories" on its opening page.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: dedicated / recommended / entrusted / delivered	dedicated — To "dedicate" a book means to name someone it honors, which is exactly what "For Abuela" on the opening page does. "Delivered" and "entrusted" mean physically handing it over, which does not explain the printed words.
Told it was time to leave the playground, the toddler stood [tough], shouting "No!" and planting her feet so firmly that no one could move her.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: frantic / tearful / defiant / bewildered	defiant — "Defiant" means boldly refusing to obey, which fits shouting "No!" and refusing to move. "Frantic" means panicked and "tearful" means crying, but she is firm, not upset.
The architect's choice to leave the old brick walls unpainted was [on purpose]; she wanted the building to show off its long history.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: deliberate / economical / temporary / practical	deliberate — "Deliberate" means done on purpose, which fits a choice made because she "wanted the building to show off its long history." "Economical" and "practical" suggest saving money or effort, but her reason is about meaning.
During the safety assembly, a firefighter [showed] how to stop, drop, and roll by doing it herself on a mat in front of the stage.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: demonstrated / explained / recommended / described	demonstrated — "Demonstrated" means showed how something works by doing it, which matches "by doing it herself." "Explained" and "described" mean telling in words, not acting it out.
The fog was so [bad] that the ferry captain could not see the Statue of Liberty from a hundred yards away.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: chilly / damp / dense / lingering	dense — "Dense" means thick and tightly packed, which explains why the captain could not see a giant statue nearby. "Damp" and "chilly" describe how fog feels, and "lingering" describes how long it lasts, not why it blocked the view.
The novel [talks about] life on a whaling ship so vividly that readers can almost smell the salt and hear the creaking timbers.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: mentions / depicts / analyzes / summarizes	depicts — "Depicts" means shows in vivid words or pictures, which fits readers almost smelling and hearing the ship. "Mentions" and "summarizes" are too brief, and "analyzes" means breaking an idea down, not bringing a scene to life.
Down by two with only two seconds left and nothing to lose, the point guard made one last [big] attempt, heaving the ball from half court.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: desperate / heroic / reckless / ambitious	desperate — "Desperate" means trying anything because hope is almost gone, which fits a last-second heave with "nothing to lose." "Reckless" means careless of danger, but a final shot risks nothing.
Before the championship began, a coin toss [picked] which team would kick off first.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: predicted / revealed / announced / determined	determined — "Determined" means decided or settled, which is what a coin toss does. "Predicted" and "revealed" suggest the answer already existed and was guessed or uncovered, but the toss itself makes the decision.
The bakery owner was in a tough [spot]: raising prices might drive away customers, but keeping them low meant losing money every week.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: dilemma / feud / slump / rut	dilemma — A "dilemma" is a hard choice between two bad options, which fits choosing between losing customers and losing money. A "slump" or "rut" is a period of doing poorly, which does not capture the two-sided choice.
The new noise barriers along the highway [lowered] the traffic sound reaching nearby homes, though residents could still hear trucks at night.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: diminished / interrupted / disguised / eliminated	diminished — "Diminished" means made smaller or less, which fits sound that is lower but still heard. "Eliminated" means removed completely, which is ruled out because residents "could still hear trucks."
Each of New York City's five boroughs has its own [kind of] character, from the quiet streets of Staten Island to the crowded sidewalks of Manhattan.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: divided / isolated / contrary / distinct	distinct — "Distinct" means clearly different from the others, which fits the contrast between quiet Staten Island and crowded Manhattan. "Contrary" means opposed or stubborn, and "isolated" means cut off, neither of which describes a borough's character.
Among hundreds of contestants at the science fair, Yuna [marked] herself by building a working water filter out of sand, charcoal, and old bottles, and she took first prize.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: distinguished / introduced / prepared / occupied	distinguished — To "distinguish" yourself means to stand out from others, which fits beating hundreds of contestants. "Occupied" means only kept busy, and "prepared" means got ready, neither of which explains her standing out.
The constant drilling from the construction site next door [bothered] Lena so much that she read the same page of her book five times.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: startled / deafened / alarmed / distracted	distracted — "Distracted" means pulled someone's attention away, which fits rereading the same page five times. "Startled" and "alarmed" describe sudden shock, but the drilling is "constant."
Our school's soccer team is very [mixed], yet the players play as one unit: they come from nine different countries and speak eleven languages among them.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: scattered / divided / unusual / diverse	diverse — "Diverse" means made up of many different kinds of people, which fits nine countries and eleven languages. "Divided" means split by disagreement, which "play as one unit" rules out, and "scattered" means spread far apart.
For the entire second half, the visiting team [owned] the field, keeping the ball for nearly every minute and scoring three more goals.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: contested / occupied / dominated / defended	dominated — "Dominated" means controlled completely, which fits keeping the ball nearly every minute while scoring. "Contested" means fought over evenly, and "defended" means protecting, but this team was on the attack.
After the doctor's warning, Mr. Patel made [big] changes overnight: he quit sugar entirely, began walking five miles a day, and sold his car.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: drastic / sensible / permanent / thoughtful	drastic — "Drastic" means extreme and sudden, which fits "overnight" and quitting sugar "entirely." "Sensible" and "thoughtful" suggest careful moderation, and nothing shows whether the changes are "permanent."
The sailors watched the black clouds gather on the horizon with growing [feeling], knowing their small boat could not outrun the storm.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: impatience / frustration / dread / resentment	dread — "Dread" is great fear of something about to happen, which fits sailors who know the storm will catch them. "Frustration" and "resentment" are kinds of anger, and "impatience" means wanting something to hurry up.
The new volunteers were [ready] to start planting, and several had arrived an hour early with their own shovels.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: scheduled / permitted / obliged / eager	eager — "Eager" means wanting very much to do something, which fits arriving an hour early. "Permitted," "scheduled," and "obliged" describe rules or duties, not how much the volunteers wanted to start.
Instead of offering a quick sketch, the architect made her plan [fancy]: it included floor-by-floor drawings, a scale model, and a forty-page report.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: elegant / stylish / elaborate / expensive	elaborate — "Elaborate" means having many carefully planned parts, which fits drawings, a model, and a long report. "Elegant" and "stylish" describe how something looks, but the details show how much went into the plan.
Lab tests showed that the town's new filter [dealt with] the lead in its tap water: not a single trace remained.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: diluted / reduced / eliminated / detected	eliminated — "Eliminated" means removed completely, which fits "not a single trace remained." "Reduced" and "diluted" mean there would still be some lead left, which the sentence rules out.
After forty minutes underground, the subway train [came] into the sunlight on the elevated tracks above Queens.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: emerged / swerved / descended / retreated	emerged — "Emerged" means came out into view, which fits a train leaving a tunnel for the sunlight. "Descended" is ruled out because the tracks are elevated, and "retreated" means moving back.
To make sure no one missed it, the teacher [said] the due date three times and wrote it in red at the top of the board.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: emphasized / announced / revealed / mentioned	emphasized — "Emphasized" means gave special attention to, which fits repeating the date and writing it in red. "Mentioned" is too casual, and "announced" means simply made known, without the extra stress.
While hiking the trail, the scouts [came across] a black bear crossing the path ahead, a moment that surprised everyone, including the bear.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: tracked / pursued / studied / encountered	encountered — "Encountered" means met unexpectedly, which fits a moment that "surprised everyone." "Tracked" and "pursued" mean following on purpose, which would not be a surprise.
Though it was built without nails or mortar, the stone footbridge has [stayed] for nine hundred years and still carries walkers across the river today.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: hovered / lingered / waited / endured	endured — To "endure" can mean to last for a long time, which fits a bridge still in use after nine hundred years. "Lingered" means stayed on idly or longer than wanted, which does not capture a bridge holding strong for centuries.
Adding a tiny pinch of salt, too little to taste on its own, can [change] the sweetness of chocolate, hiding nothing and making the flavor deeper and richer, though it fades just as quickly as before.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: mask / prolong / enhance / overpower	enhance — "Enhance" means make better or stronger, which fits a deeper, richer flavor; "mask" is ruled out by "hiding nothing," "overpower" by "too little to taste on its own," and "prolong" by the flavor fading just as quickly.
Workers needed three cranes and a full week to lift the [big] steel beam into place on top of the stadium.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: ample / enormous / sizable / spacious	enormous — "Enormous" means extremely large, which explains needing three cranes and a full week. "Sizable" means only fairly large, which is too weak, and "ample" and "spacious" describe amounts and room, not a solid object.
The museum keeps the gallery cool and dark to [make it so] the ancient scrolls do not crumble.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: verify / ensure / hope / assume	ensure — To "ensure" means to make certain something happens, which fits taking active steps to protect the scrolls. "Hope" and "assume" mean only expecting, and "verify" means checking afterward, not causing the result.
Through hundreds of careful experiments, the research team [showed for sure] that the new vaccine was safe for children.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: predicted / claimed / established / suggested	established — "Established" means proved that something is true, which fits "hundreds of careful experiments." "Suggested" and "claimed" are much less certain, and "predicted" means before testing.
The judges [looked at] each robot for speed, accuracy, and design, giving every entry a score from one to ten.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: admired / surveyed / evaluated / observed	evaluated — "Evaluated" means judged how good something is, which fits giving each robot a score. "Observed" and "surveyed" mean only watched or looked over, and "admired" means liked, but none includes scoring.
The muddy paw prints on the couch were all the [stuff] Mom needed to know that the dog had been inside while we were out.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: explanation / warning / evidence / reminder	evidence — "Evidence" means signs that show something is true, which fits paw prints proving the dog was inside. A "warning" or "reminder" points to the future or to something already known, not proof of what happened.
Maya [stretched] how hard the test was, claiming that no one could have answered a single question, though most of the class had passed easily.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: described / exaggerated / questioned / explained	exaggerated — "Exaggerated" means made something seem bigger than it really is, which fits claiming no one could answer when most people passed. "Described" and "explained" suggest an accurate account, which the last detail rules out.
The club's old rules [kept out] anyone under fourteen, so younger students could only watch the matches from the bleachers.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: discouraged / ignored / excluded / dismissed	excluded — "Excluded" means kept out, which fits younger students being allowed only to watch. "Discouraged" means only made something less appealing, but the rules flatly barred them.
The bakery [changed] its menu, adding sandwiches and soups while still selling every bread and pastry it always had.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: simplified / expanded / reorganized / revised	expanded — "Expanded" means made larger, which fits adding items while keeping all the old ones. "Revised" and "reorganized" mean changing or rearranging, which does not show that the menu grew.
During exam week, the library [changed] its hours, staying open until midnight instead of eight while still opening at nine each morning.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: extended / restored / shifted / posted	extended — "Extended" means made longer, which fits staying open four more hours with the same opening time. "Shifted" would mean moving both opening and closing, which the sentence rules out.
The robotic dinosaur at the museum [interested] the second graders so much that they refused to leave its exhibit even when lunch was announced.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: amused / satisfied / fascinated / startled	fascinated — "Fascinated" means held someone's attention by being very interesting, which fits children who would not leave even for lunch. "Amused" means made them laugh, which does not explain their refusal to leave.
The new phone's most impressive [thing] is a camera that can take sharp photos in almost complete darkness.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: ornament / feature / attachment / accessory	feature — A "feature" is an important part of something, which fits a camera built into the phone. An "accessory" or "attachment" is an extra item added on, and an "ornament" is only decoration.
Before pitching the tent, the scouts searched for [good] ground, avoiding sand and mud, where the stakes would grip tightly.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: level / shady / firm / open	firm — "Firm" means solid and not soft, which fits avoiding sand and mud so stakes would grip. "Level" and "shady" are good qualities for a campsite but have nothing to do with stakes holding.
Gymnasts spend years stretching so that their bodies become [soft] enough to bend backward and touch their heels.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: flexible / muscular / graceful / sturdy	flexible — "Flexible" means able to bend easily, which fits bending backward to touch their heels. "Graceful" is tempting, but it describes how movement looks, not how far a body can bend.
Wrap the old photographs carefully: the colors are still vivid, the edges are untorn, and each print lies perfectly flat, but the paper is so [weak] that it could crack if it is folded even once.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: fragile / faded / tattered / warped	fragile — "Fragile" means easily broken, which fits paper that could crack with one fold; "tattered" is ruled out by the untorn edges, "faded" by the vivid colors, and "warped" by prints that lie perfectly flat.
The puzzle's one missing piece [bugged] Mia so much that she searched under every couch cushion in the house.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: embarrassed / bewildered / frustrated / frightened	frustrated — "Frustrated" means annoyed at being unable to finish something, which fits a puzzle she could not complete. "Bewildered" means confused, but Mia knows exactly what is wrong: a piece is missing.
Starting with just a few donated trays of cookies, the student council's bake sale [made] more than eight hundred dollars for the animal shelter.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: saved / spent / generated / required	generated — "Generated" means produced or brought in, which fits turning a few trays of cookies into new money for the shelter. "Spent" and "required" would mean money going out, and "saved" means keeping money that was already there.
Without saying a word, the conductor made one sweeping [move] with both arms, and the whole orchestra stopped at once.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: gesture / stretch / maneuver / pose	gesture — A "gesture" is a movement that shows meaning, which fits a signal that stopped the orchestra. A "pose" is held still, and a "stretch" is for the body, not a message to others.
Through a gap in the clouds, the climbers caught their only [sight] of the summit, which lasted just a few seconds before the fog rolled back in.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: inspection / glimpse / panorama / survey	glimpse — A "glimpse" is a quick look, which fits a view lasting "just a few seconds." A "survey" or "inspection" is a careful, longer look, and a "panorama" is a wide, complete view.
Over the school year, Jamal's reading speed [sort of] increased, rising by just a few words per minute each month.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: unexpectedly / briefly / occasionally / gradually	gradually — "Gradually" means a little at a time, which fits a few words per minute each month. "Occasionally" would mean only now and then, but the speed rose every month.
As the subway lurched forward, the little boy [held] the pole with both hands so he would not fall.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: grasped / pressed / tapped / brushed	grasped — "Grasped" means held tightly, which fits using both hands to keep from falling. "Brushed" and "tapped" are light touches, and "pressed" means pushing, not gripping.
The family felt deeply [good] toward the stranger who returned their lost wallet with every dollar still inside.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: grateful / protective / forgiving / generous	grateful — "Grateful" means thankful for what someone did, which fits a stranger returning the wallet. "Generous" describes giving, but the stranger did the giving here, and the family had nothing to "forgive."
The scientists' warning was [bad]: unless the leaking dam was repaired within days, the valley below could flood.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: vague / grave / gloomy / harsh	grave — "Grave" means very serious and worrying, which fits a possible flood within days. "Gloomy" describes a sad mood, "vague" is ruled out by the exact deadline, and "harsh" suggests unkindness.
For years after the move, Nia [had] a secret hope that her old best friend would write back; she never mentioned it to anyone and never tried to push the hope away, though the letter never came.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: fulfilled / voiced / harbored / suppressed	harbored — "Harbored" means kept a feeling, often secretly, for a long time, which fits years of a hope she told no one; "voiced" clashes with never mentioning it, "suppressed" with never pushing it away, and "fulfilled" with the letter never coming.
Priya [waited] at the edge of the frozen pond, unsure whether the ice would hold her, before finally taking a careful first step.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: rested / hesitated / loitered / lingered	hesitated — "Hesitated" means paused because of doubt, which matches being "unsure whether the ice would hold her." "Lingered" suggests staying because she did not want to leave, and "loitered" means hanging around with no purpose.
When the new manager announced longer shifts with no extra pay, the workers gave her [bad] stares, muttered threats under their breath, and refused to shake her hand.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: fearful / envious / mournful / hostile	hostile — "Hostile" means unfriendly and ready to fight, which fits "muttered threats" and refusing her hand. "Fearful" and "mournful" describe fear and sadness, and "envious" would mean they wanted something she had.
Ava had watched the mystery visitor at the feeder all week; only after matching its red cap and white wing bars to a picture in her field guide could she finally [get] it: a red-headed woodpecker.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: sketch / spot / identify / observe	identify — "Identify" means recognize and name what something is, which is what matching it to a field guide picture lets her do. She had already been able to "spot" and "observe" the bird "all week," so those words miss the point.
To help readers picture her claim that city noise harms health, the author [goes over] it with one concrete example: a night-shift nurse who can never sleep through the daytime traffic.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: defends / restates / illustrates / summarizes	illustrates — "Illustrates" means makes an idea clear with an example, which is exactly what the nurse's story does "to help readers picture" the claim. "Defends" would need an attack to answer, and "restates" or "summarizes" would mean repeating or shortening the claim, not giving an example.
The new bike lanes have had a powerful [thing] on safety along the avenue, cutting the number of crashes there by half in a single year.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: bearing / impact / emphasis / focus	impact — "Impact" means a strong effect, which matches crashes being cut "by half in a single year." "Bearing on" only means having some connection to, and "emphasis" or "focus" describe what people pay attention to, not a measurable result.
Walking past the street vendor's cart, Rosa felt a sudden [feeling] to buy a hot pretzel, even though she had promised herself she would save her money.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: ambition / impulse / obligation / intention	impulse — "Impulse" means a sudden, unplanned urge, which fits a "sudden" wish that goes against her own promise. "Intention" would mean she had planned it, and "ambition" and "obligation" are long-term goals and duties.
With a quick wave of her hand and without a word, the coach [said] that the runners should move to the outside lane.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: declared / indicated / announced / insisted	indicated — "Indicated" means showed or signaled, which fits a silent "wave of her hand." "Announced," "declared," and "insisted" all describe speaking aloud, which the coach did not do "without a word."
Down by forty points with only ten seconds left on the clock, the players knew that a loss was [coming], so they simply let the time run out.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: inevitable / probable / conceivable / plausible	inevitable — "Inevitable" means certain and impossible to avoid, which fits a forty-point gap with ten seconds left. "Probable" means only likely, and "conceivable" and "plausible" mean merely possible, all too weak for a game that could not be saved.
Watching her older sister rehearse was only one of several things that [touched] Kayla's decision to try out, along with her love of singing and a nudge from her music teacher.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: dictated / influenced / finalized / determined	influenced — "Influenced" means had an effect on, which fits one factor among "several." "Determined" and "dictated" would mean the sister's rehearsals alone decided the matter, which the other reasons rule out.
Mei's [beginning] reaction to the noisy apartment was panic, but within a week she hardly noticed the trains rumbling past.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: customary / lingering / initial / gradual	initial — "Initial" means first, which fits a reaction that changed "within a week." Panic that faded fast was not "gradual" or "lingering," and "customary" would mean her usual reaction.
Even after the waiter tasted it and called it perfect, Mrs. Ortiz [said], again and again, that the soup was cold, refusing to back down.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: suggested / hinted / insisted / admitted	insisted — "Insisted" means stated firmly and would not give in, which fits "again and again" and "refusing to back down." "Suggested" and "hinted" are far too gentle, and "admitted" means confessing something against yourself.
Seeing a woman his own age cross the marathon finish line, arms raised in joy, [got] Mr. Kim to start running again; he went home thrilled and signed up for a race that night.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: inspired / pressured / reminded / persuaded	inspired — "Inspired" means filled someone with excitement and desire to act, which fits his going home "thrilled." "Persuaded" would need arguments and "pressured" would need force, but the runner simply set an example.
For just one afternoon, the heat was so [strong] that the playground's metal slide burned anyone who touched it.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: persistent / gradual / intense / humid	intense — "Intense" means extremely strong, which fits heat that made metal burn to the touch. "Persistent" is ruled out by "just one afternoon," and "humid" describes moisture in the air, which does not make a slide burn.
Because the old map used symbols no one recognized, the historians struggled to [get] what the dotted red lines were supposed to mark.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: memorize / notice / interpret / recall	interpret — "Interpret" means figure out the meaning of something, which is the problem with symbols "no one recognized." They could not "recall" a meaning they never knew, and the lines were easy to "notice"; it was their meaning that was unclear.
Officials are [looking into] why the subway signals failed during Monday's rush hour; so far they have pulled weeks of repair records and interviewed every worker on duty.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: announcing / investigating / debating / explaining	investigating — "Investigating" means examining carefully to find the truth, which matches pulling records and interviewing workers. Officials cannot yet be "explaining" or "announcing" a cause they are still gathering evidence about.
To keep the virus from spreading, nurses [put] the patient with measles in a room down the hall that no other patients or visitors could enter.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: isolated / examined / sheltered / comforted	isolated — "Isolated" means set apart from others, which fits a room no one else "could enter" so the virus would not spread. "Sheltered" would mean protecting the patient, but the goal here is protecting everyone else.
At the town meeting, the [thing] that divided neighbors most was the plan to tear down the old train station; speakers argued about it for three hours.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: issue / complaint / announcement / rumor	issue — An "issue" is an important topic people debate, which fits a plan that "divided neighbors" for three hours of arguing. It was a real plan, not a "rumor," and a one-sided "complaint" or "announcement" does not split a room into two sides.
After the robotics club's trip to the lab, Ana was [ready] to start building a drone of her own; no one had assigned or even suggested it, and she had no parts or training yet, but she couldn't wait and spent every lunch period sketching designs.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: keen / willing / prepared / obliged	keen — "Keen" means eager and interested, which fits a girl who couldn't wait and sketched every lunch; "willing" means merely agreeing to something suggested, but no one suggested it, "prepared" clashes with having no parts or training, and "obliged" clashes with no one assigning it.
The smell of burnt popcorn [stayed] in the hallway for hours after the microwave mishap, even though someone had opened every window.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: spread / lingered / drifted / circulated	lingered — "Lingered" means stayed longer than expected and was slow to go away, which fits a smell that remained "even though" every window was open. "Drifted" and "circulated" describe moving around, not refusing to leave.
Volunteers [take care of] the hiking trails each spring, clearing fallen branches and repainting the faded trail markers.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: design / maintain / explore / patrol	maintain — "Maintain" means keep in good condition, which is what clearing branches and repainting markers does. "Patrol" means walking an area to watch over it, and "design" would mean planning trails that do not exist yet.
The judge said the missing comma was [sort of] a small slip, not a reason to lower the essay's score.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: largely / partly / nearly / merely	merely — "Merely" means only and nothing more, which fits the judge's point that the comma was not worth a lower score. "Partly" and "largely" suggest it was also something more serious, which the sentence denies.
Ms. Patel's [way] for memorizing vocabulary, writing each word on a card and reviewing the hardest ones first, helped the whole class improve.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: motive / talent / tradition / method	method — A "method" is a planned, step-by-step way of doing something, which matches the card-writing and review steps described. A "talent" is a natural ability, and a "motive" is a reason, not a set of steps.
Even after winning the state spelling bee, Malik stayed [nice] about it: he never mentioned the trophy at school and changed the subject whenever anyone called him a genius.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: serious / cheerful / modest / patient	modest — "Modest" means not bragging about yourself, which fits never mentioning the trophy and dodging praise. Being "cheerful" or "patient" says nothing about avoiding attention for his win.
The scientist explained that her [point] for studying coral reefs was personal: she grew up snorkeling near a reef that later died.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: approach / talent / motive / method	motive — A "motive" is a reason for doing something, which fits the personal story of why she studies reefs. "Method" and "approach" describe how she works, but the colon introduces why.
The landlord [didn't do much with] the building for years, and now the roof leaks and the paint is peeling off every wall.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: managed / neglected / advertised / occupied	neglected — "Neglected" means failed to take care of, which explains the leaking roof and peeling paint. "Managed" would suggest he looked after the building, which the damage contradicts.
Jada had a [thought] that she could finish the whole thousand-piece puzzle in one evening, but it took her two weeks.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: guarantee / proof / fear / notion	notion — A "notion" is an idea or belief that may not be true, which fits a plan that turned out wrong. A "guarantee" or "proof" would mean she was sure to succeed, and she was hoping to finish, not afraid of it.
The class's [new] idea, using old bicycle wheels to power a phone charger, impressed the judges, who had never seen anything like it.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: recent / popular / practical / novel	novel — "Novel" means original and unlike anything before, which fits judges who "had never seen anything like it." "Recent" only means it was thought of lately, which is not what impressed the judges.
The main [point] of Saturday's bake sale is to raise four hundred dollars, and every cookie sold brings the band closer to buying new drums.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: tradition / objective / theme / rule	objective — An "objective" is a goal you work toward, which fits "every cookie sold brings the band closer." A "theme" or "tradition" describes the event's style or history, not a target to reach.
The fallen tree blocking the narrow trail was the last [problem] standing between the hikers and the summit, so they climbed over it one by one.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: landmark / boundary / milestone / obstacle	obstacle — An "obstacle" is something that blocks the way, which fits a tree "blocking the narrow trail" that they had to climb over. A "landmark" or "milestone" only marks a place along the route, and a "boundary" is a dividing line, not a blockage.
After weeks of phone calls and emails, the reporter finally [got] a copy of the city's private budget report, which officials had refused to hand over.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: reviewed / obtained / located / requested	obtained — "Obtained" means got something through effort, which fits weeks of calls to officials who "refused to hand over" the report. She had been "requesting" it all along, and she could not review it until she had it.
Several parents [didn't like] the proposal to start school an hour earlier and signed a petition asking the board to reject it.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: questioned / reviewed / discussed / opposed	opposed — "Opposed" means stood against and tried to stop, which fits a petition asking the board "to reject it." "Questioned" only means they had doubts, which is weaker than working to block the plan.
Astronomers are still debating the [start] of the strange radio signals; some think they come from a distant galaxy, others from a dying star in our own.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: pattern / strength / origin / meaning	origin — "Origin" means where something comes from, which fits a debate over whether the signals "come from" a galaxy or a star. The "meaning" or "pattern" of the signals is not what the two sides disagree about.
Despite three failed attempts, Kenji [kept on] with his science project until the homemade battery finally lit the bulb.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: tinkered / persisted / experimented / fussed	persisted — "Persisted" means kept going despite difficulty, which fits "despite three failed attempts." "Tinkered" and "experimented" describe trying things out, but not refusing to give up after failing.
Spending a summer working on a farm gave Luis a new [look] on where his food comes from.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: perspective / report / lesson / focus	perspective — A "perspective" is a way of seeing or thinking about something, which fits how farm work changed his view of food. A "lesson" or "report" is something taught or written, not a new way of seeing.
Using charts of rising electric bills, Amara [got] her parents to switch to energy-saving light bulbs.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: persuaded / pressured / begged / reminded	persuaded — "Persuaded" means convinced with reasons, which fits using charts as evidence. "Begged" means pleading and "pressured" means pushing, but she won them over with facts.
The new school uniform is very [normal]: a gray shirt with no logo, stripes, or buttons.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: modern / plain / formal / practical	plain — "Plain" means simple and without decoration, which the colon explains: "no logo, stripes, or buttons." "Formal" and "practical" describe dress style or usefulness, not the lack of decoration.
The recipe gives [good] measurements, down to a quarter teaspoon of salt, so every batch tastes exactly the same.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: standard / precise / generous / familiar	precise — "Precise" means exact, which fits measurements "down to a quarter teaspoon" that keep every batch the same. "Standard" only means the usual units are used, and "generous" means large amounts.
Based on the dark clouds and falling air pressure, the sailors [guessed] that a storm would arrive by noon, and they headed for shore.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: predicted / assumed / imagined / announced	predicted — "Predicted" means said what will happen based on evidence, which fits reading the clouds and air pressure. "Assumed" means believed without checking, which ignores the evidence they used.
The historical society is raising money to [keep] the old wooden carousel, repairing its painted horses so they look just as they did in 1910.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: display / relocate / preserve / modernize	preserve — "Preserve" means keep something in its original state, which fits horses that look "just as they did in 1910." "Modernize" would change the carousel, and "display" or "relocate" would not involve repairs.
After the flood, clean water was the town's [big] concern, more urgent even than repairing the roads.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: primary / hidden / ongoing / personal	primary — "Primary" means main or most important, which fits a concern "more urgent even than repairing the roads." "Ongoing" describes how long it lasted, not its rank among the town's needs.
Mr. Okafor refused to let students copy homework answers, explaining that honesty was one of his core [ideas], something he would never bend on in any situation.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: habits / principles / interests / preferences	principles — "Principles" are beliefs about right and wrong that guide behavior, which fits a value he "would never bend on." "Habits" and "preferences" are things a person does or likes, not moral rules held firm.
Once the storm had passed and the skies were calm, the pilot was cleared to [go on] with the routine landing, and she brought the plane down slowly and smoothly.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: persist / proceed / hurry / experiment	proceed — "Proceed" means go forward after a pause, which fits continuing once the storm passed; "hurry" clashes with "slowly," "persist" means keep going despite difficulty, but the skies were calm, and "experiment" clashes with a "routine" landing.
The sadness readers felt at the novel's ending was [big]; many said they kept thinking about the characters for weeks.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: sudden / obvious / public / profound	profound — "Profound" means very deep, which fits sadness strong enough to last "for weeks." "Sudden" describes how fast it arrived, not how deep it went.
A posted rule [stops] flash photography in the gallery, and guards ask anyone who uses a flash even once to leave.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: prohibits / monitors / restricts / discourages	prohibits — "Prohibits" means forbids completely by rule, which fits removing anyone who uses a flash "even once." "Discourages" and "restricts" mean only advising against or limiting, which is weaker than a total ban.
Dr. Lee, the surgeon who gave this year's graduation speech, is [big] in her field: her research has been featured in journals around the world, and doctors on every continent know her name.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: skilled / prominent / experienced / popular	prominent — "Prominent" means important and widely known, which fits worldwide coverage and doctors who "know her name." "Skilled" and "experienced" describe her ability, and "popular" means well liked, but the detail is about fame and importance.
A string of power outages [pushed] the hospital to buy a backup generator for its operating rooms.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: prompted / allowed / invited / tempted	prompted — "Prompted" means caused someone to act, which fits outages leading to a purchase. "Tempted" suggests wanting something you should not have, and outages do not "allow" or "invite" anything.
During the meeting, the engineer [brought up] a new route for the bus line, one that would save riders ten minutes each way, for the board to vote on.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: defended / approved / proposed / criticized	proposed — "Proposed" means suggested a plan for others to consider, which fits offering a route "for the board to vote on." He could not have "approved" it before the vote, and nobody had attacked it for him to "defend."
Fernando grinned at the [thought] of spending next summer working at the aquarium, feeding the sea otters every morning.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: story / memory / reminder / prospect	prospect — A "prospect" is the possibility of something in the future, which fits "next summer." A "memory" or "story" would point to something that already happened.
The referee's surprise call [caused] an angry roar from the home crowd, and several fans threw cups onto the field.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: followed / ended / muffled / provoked	provoked — "Provoked" means stirred up a strong, angry reaction, which fits the crowd's roar and thrown cups. The call came first, so it did not "follow" the roar, and it clearly did not "end" or "muffle" it.
The cheetah [went after] the gazelle across the open grassland, reaching nearly sixty miles per hour in a few seconds.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: stalked / spotted / pursued / tracked	pursued — "Pursued" means chased, which fits a sprint at nearly sixty miles per hour. "Stalked" means crept up slowly and quietly, and "tracked" means followed signs or a trail, neither of which is a high-speed chase.
Instead of panicking when the trail disappeared under the snow, Kim made a [good] choice: she stayed in one spot and blew her whistle until rangers arrived.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: generous / rational / lucky / bold	rational — "Rational" means based on clear, logical thinking, which contrasts with "panicking" and fits staying put and signaling for help. Staying in one spot is careful, not "bold," and it was planned, not "lucky."
The nurse [talked to] the nervous boy, explaining that the shot would sting for only a second and that he could squeeze her hand; within a minute, his shoulders relaxed.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: reassured / warned / distracted / instructed	reassured — "Reassured" means made someone feel less worried, which fits a "nervous" boy whose shoulders "relaxed." A warning would make him more nervous, and she was calming him, not "instructing" him how to do something.
Seventy years later, without anyone reminding her, Grandma could still [think of] the exact song that was playing at her first school dance.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: recognize / imagine / request / recall	recall — "Recall" means bring back from memory on your own, which fits "without anyone reminding her." To "recognize" the song she would need to hear it again, and "imagine" suggests making something up.
It took the runner six weeks to [get better] from her ankle injury, but she was back on the track in time for the city championship.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: escape / recover / rest / retire	recover — "Recover" means get well again after an injury, which fits being "back on the track." "Rest" describes only part of healing, and "retire" would mean she quit, which she did not.
The still pond [showed] the red maple trees so perfectly that the photograph looked as if it had been flipped upside down.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: reflected / shaded / framed / revealed	reflected — "Reflected" means threw back an image like a mirror, which explains a photo that looks "flipped upside down." "Revealed" means uncovered something hidden, and "framed" means surrounded, neither of which makes a mirror image.
Before the hurricane, workers [fixed up] the old sea wall with concrete and steel bars so it could hold back waves higher than it was ever built for.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: restored / reinforced / repaired / inspected	reinforced — "Reinforced" means made stronger, which fits a wall that must now hold waves "higher than it was ever built for." "Repaired" and "restored" only bring something back to how it was, which would not be enough.
The committee [said no to] the playground design because it had no shade and no ramps for wheelchairs, and it asked the architects to start over from scratch.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: rejected / questioned / revised / postponed	rejected — "Rejected" means refused to accept, which fits asking the architects "to start over from scratch." "Revised" would mean fixing the same design, and "questioned" or "postponed" would leave it still under consideration.
When writing a lab report, include only [useful] details, such as the temperature and the amount of each chemical, not what you ate for lunch.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: interesting / accurate / relevant / precise	relevant — "Relevant" means connected to the subject, which is why lunch, unrelated to the experiment, is left out. A lunch detail could be perfectly "accurate" or "precise"; the problem is that it has nothing to do with the lab.
Kai was [slow] to join the debate team because speaking in front of crowds made his hands shake, but his friends finally talked him into it.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: unable / reluctant / unprepared / unqualified	reluctant — "Reluctant" means unwilling or hesitant, which fits a boy who had to be "talked into it" because of nerves. He did join, so he was not "unable," and nothing suggests he lacked training or skill.
Grandpa's favorite [fix] for hiccups, drinking a glass of water while bending forward, works surprisingly often.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: test / explanation / remedy / theory	remedy — A "remedy" is a cure, which fits something that "works" to stop hiccups. An "explanation" or "theory" tells why hiccups happen; it does not stop them.
The island where the research station sits is so [far away] that a supply ship reaches it only twice a year.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: barren / rugged / tiny / remote	remote — "Remote" means far from other places, which explains why a ship arrives "only twice a year." "Rugged," "barren," and "tiny" describe the land itself, not its distance from everything else.
With their black-and-orange wings, viceroy butterflies [are like] monarchs, so birds that avoid monarchs often skip viceroys too, even though viceroys are far less common, seldom fly alongside monarchs, and live only about as long.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: resemble / accompany / outlive / outnumber	resemble — "Resemble" means look like, which explains why birds mistake one for the other; "accompany" is ruled out by "seldom fly alongside," "outnumber" by "far less common," and "outlive" by "live only about as long."
Many workers [didn't love] the new rule requiring them to clock in fifteen minutes early without extra pay, and some began looking for other jobs.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: questioned / misunderstood / ignored / resented	resented — "Resented" means felt bitter about something unfair, which fits unpaid extra time and workers ready to quit. "Questioned" is too mild, and nothing suggests they "misunderstood" a clear rule.
Although the cookies smelled amazing, Leah [dealt with] the temptation to grab one before dinner and waited until dessert.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: felt / resisted / noticed / admitted	resisted — "Resisted" means refused to give in, which fits waiting "until dessert." She did feel and notice the temptation, but those words leave out the key fact that she held back.
The two neighbors finally [handled] their argument over the fence by agreeing to split the cost of a new one.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: resolved / avoided / discussed / postponed	resolved — "Resolved" means settled a problem, which fits reaching an agreement to split the cost. "Discussed" means only talked about it, and an agreement is the opposite of putting it off.
The public library is a valuable [help] for families without home internet, offering free computers, printers, and homework support.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: attraction / tradition / landmark / resource	resource — A "resource" is a supply of something useful, which fits free computers, printers, and help. A "landmark" or "attraction" is a place people visit or notice, not a source of useful tools.
After the storm knocked out power, crews worked through the night to [bring back] electricity to the neighborhood, repairing the same old lines so that every home had full power, just as before.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: upgrade / ration / reroute / restore	restore — "Restore" means bring back to the original condition, which fits power "just as before"; "reroute" clashes with repairing the same old lines, "upgrade" with "just as before," and "ration" with every home having full power.
The new rule [holds] each student to two library books at a time, so more people can borrow the popular titles.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: treats / introduces / restricts / assigns	restricts — "Restricts" means keeps within limits, which fits capping students at two books so others get a turn. "Treats" would make the books a reward, but the rule exists to hold borrowing down.
When the hawk's shadow swept across the field, the rabbits quickly and deliberately [went back] into their burrows, where they crouched, trembling, until the danger passed.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: dawdled / retreated / nestled / tumbled	retreated — "Retreated" means moved back away from danger, which fits fleeing the hawk; "nestled" suggests cozy comfort and clashes with trembling, "tumbled" suggests an accident and clashes with "deliberately," and "dawdled" clashes with "quickly."
In the final chapter, the narrator [says] that the mysterious letters were written by her own grandmother, a secret she has kept from readers for three hundred pages.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: repeats / suspects / reveals / regrets	reveals — "Reveals" means makes known something hidden, which fits a "secret" kept for three hundred pages. She cannot "repeat" what she never said, and she already knows it, so she does not merely "suspect" it.
The tent poles are made of [hard] plastic that will not bend even in strong winds.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: heavy / rigid / durable / thick	rigid — "Rigid" means stiff and unable to bend, which matches poles that "will not bend." "Durable" means long-lasting, which is about wear, not stiffness.
Clean drinking water was so [low] after the hurricane that many stores had none at all, so volunteers handed out bottles from trucks in every neighborhood.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: unsafe / costly / popular / scarce	scarce — "Scarce" means hard to find because there is not enough, which fits stores that "had none at all." The problem was not price, since there was no water to buy, so "costly" misses the point.
If you feel dizzy during the hike, [get] help from a park ranger at the nearest station right away.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: expect / demand / seek / accept	seek — "Seek" means go looking for, which fits heading to the nearest station yourself. "Accept" assumes someone has already offered help, and "demand" is rude and too forceful for asking a ranger.
For the museum's small research team, the moment they found a new dinosaur species in Montana was [big]: it earned them national attention and a major research grant.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: significant / sudden / emotional / lucky	significant — "Significant" means important enough to matter, which fits a find that brought "national attention and a major research grant." The colon explains the results of the find, not how "sudden" or "emotional" it felt.
The scientists were [unsure] about the student's claim that her homemade engine ran on water alone, so they asked her to repeat the test while they watched.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: skeptical / confused / impressed / anxious	skeptical — "Skeptical" means doubtful and not easily convinced, which fits asking to see the test repeated. "Confused" means not understanding, but the scientists understood the claim; they simply did not believe it.
The lighthouse keeper's life on the island was [different]: he saw another person only when the supply boat arrived each month.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: simple / peaceful / difficult / solitary	solitary — "Solitary" means lived alone, which is what the colon explains: he saw another person only once a month. "Peaceful," "simple," and "difficult" might describe his days, but the detail is about being alone.
Despite a century of storms, the old barn was still [okay], with no rotten beams or leaks in the roof.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: sound / spacious / charming / valuable	sound — "Sound" means healthy and in good condition, which fits a barn with "no rotten beams or leaks." "Charming," "spacious," and "valuable" do not describe whether the building held up through storms.
Nobody had planned it, but the cheer that rose from the bleachers when the team's bus pulled in was [random] and joyful.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: brief / scattered / deafening / spontaneous	spontaneous — "Spontaneous" means happening naturally without planning, which fits "Nobody had planned it." "Deafening" and "brief" describe how loud or long the cheer was, which the sentence never mentions.
Before climbing, Dad leaned the ladder against the wall at a slight angle, pulled out only partway and with nothing tying it down, and made sure it was [good] on the flat concrete so it would not wobble.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: stable / anchored / upright / extended	stable — "Stable" means steady and not likely to shake, which fits making sure it would not wobble; "upright" clashes with leaning at an angle, "anchored" with nothing tying it down, and "extended" with pulled out only partway.
The relay team's [idea] for winning was to put their fastest runner last, saving her speed for the final stretch.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: custom / motive / talent / strategy	strategy — A "strategy" is a careful plan for reaching a goal, which fits deciding who runs last. A "motive" is the reason for wanting to win, not the plan for doing it.
Halfway through her morning jog, the answer to the tricky math problem suddenly [hit] Priya, so clear and complete that she laughed out loud without breaking her stride.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: struck / distracted / puzzled / haunted	struck — "Struck" here means came suddenly into her mind, which fits an answer arriving all at once; "haunted" means troubled over a long time and clashes with "suddenly" and her laughter, "puzzled" clashes with "clear and complete," and "distracted" clashes with "without breaking her stride."
The chef's touch of lemon in the soup was [small], just enough that diners noticed something bright but could not quite name it.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: welcome / refreshing / sharp / subtle	subtle — "Subtle" means not obvious and hard to notice, which fits a flavor diners sensed but "could not quite name." A "sharp" flavor would be easy to name.
The hikers packed [some] lukewarm water for the full-day trip, just the right amount: no one ran out on the long, hot climb, and every bottle was empty by the time they reached the car.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: excessive / chilled / sufficient / minimal	sufficient — "Sufficient" means enough for the purpose, which fits no one running out with nothing left over; "excessive" clashes with every bottle being empty, "minimal" suggests barely any and clashes with "just the right amount," and "chilled" clashes with "lukewarm."
Firefighters worked for hours to [stop] the blaze before it could reach the homes at the edge of the forest.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: photograph / monitor / outrun / suppress	suppress — "Suppress" means hold back or put down, which fits fighting the fire "before it could reach the homes." Only "monitoring" the fire would not keep it from reaching the houses.
A single small campfire could not [keep up] enough heat to warm the whole cabin through the freezing night.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: reflect / absorb / sustain / measure	sustain — "Sustain" means keep something going, which fits providing heat "through the freezing night." "Reflecting" or "absorbing" heat would not keep the cabin warm.
There was [a feeling] in the room as the judges prepared to announce the winner; no one spoke, and several contestants gripped their chairs.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: tension / confusion / sorrow / boredom	tension — "Tension" is a nervous, strained feeling, which fits silence and contestants gripping their chairs. Nobody is "bored" or "confused" while waiting for the winner to be announced.
Since moving to the bigger tank, the goldfish have [done good], doubling in size and swimming energetically.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: settled / survived / multiplied / thrived	thrived — "Thrived" means grew strongly and healthily, which fits doubling in size. "Survived" only means stayed alive, which undersells it, and the fish grew bigger, not more numerous.
For anyone who trains service dogs, patience is the most important [thing] to have: it cannot be learned in a class or practiced into a routine, and it must last through weeks of teaching a single command.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: skill / habit / mood / trait	trait — A "trait" is a quality that is part of a person's character, which fits something that cannot be taught or drilled; a "skill" can be learned in a class, a "habit" is built by routine, and a "mood" is temporary, not lasting for weeks.
Over two weeks inside its chrysalis, the caterpillar [changed] into a monarch butterfly, its body not growing larger but being rebuilt completely, from legs to wings.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: shifted / transformed / grew / evolved	transformed — "Transformed" means changed completely in form, which fits a body rebuilt from legs to wings; "grew" clashes with "not growing larger," "shifted" is far too slight, and "evolved" describes change in a species over many generations, not one insect in two weeks.
Finishing the 1,000-piece puzzle after three months felt like a real [win] to the whole family, who celebrated with a pizza party.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: ordeal / triumph / chore / surprise	triumph — A "triumph" is a great victory, which fits finishing a three-month project with a celebration. An "ordeal" is a painful experience, which a pizza party does not fit.
Hot, sticky afternoons are [normal] for July in New York City, so the public pool on our block is always crowded.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: pleasant / tiring / memorable / typical	typical — "Typical" means usual for a certain time or place, which explains why the pool is "always" crowded in July. Sticky heat is hardly "pleasant," and "memorable" would suggest it is rare.
After months of debate, the town [at some point] voted to turn the old firehouse into a community center.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: repeatedly / quickly / ultimately / secretly	ultimately — "Ultimately" means in the end, after everything else, which fits a vote "after months of debate." Nothing was "quick" about months of talk, and a town vote is public, not secret.
Starting in June, the old movie palace will [get] a major renovation that its owners have long wanted, with crews installing modern lighting and new seats by August, even though nothing in the building is broken.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: survive / undergo / await / require	undergo — "Undergo" means go through a process such as a renovation, which fits work happening from June to August; "require" clashes with "nothing in the building is broken," "survive" suggests a threat, but the owners want it, and "await" clashes with crews finishing by August.
The seahorse that lives on the reef near the island is [special]: divers spot dozens on every dive and the colony is healthy and growing, yet few people outside the island have heard of it, and scientists have never found one in any other ocean.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: endangered / elusive / famous / unique	unique — "Unique" means one of a kind, which fits a seahorse found in no other ocean; "endangered" clashes with a healthy, growing colony, "elusive" with divers spotting dozens, and "famous" with few outsiders having heard of it.
The coach [told] the pitchers to rest their arms before the championship, warning that one more hard practice could lead to an injury.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: dared / invited / urged / allowed	urged — "Urged" means strongly encouraged, which fits advice backed by a warning about injury. "Allowed" and "invited" are too weak for a warning, and "dared" means challenging someone to take a risk.
When asked where he had been all afternoon, Theo's answer was [weird]: he said only that he had been "out and around."  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: clever / honest / rude / vague	vague — "Vague" means unclear and not specific, which fits "out and around," an answer that names no place. Nothing in his reply is "rude" or "clever"; it just leaves out the details.
Despite the strong currents, the small fishing boat [went] out beyond the reef, where few crews ever dared to go.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: wandered / hurried / drifted / ventured	ventured — "Ventured" means went somewhere risky on purpose, which fits a place "few crews ever dared to go." "Drifted" means floated without control, and "wandered" means moved without a goal.
The author's [nice] description of the market, with its piles of glowing oranges, shouting vendors, and scent of fresh bread, made readers feel as if they were standing there.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: vivid / formal / lengthy / accurate	vivid — "Vivid" means bright, clear, and full of detail, which fits sights, sounds, and smells that put readers "standing there." A description can be "accurate" or "lengthy" without making readers feel present.
The small family orchard [makes] more than two thousand pounds of apples each fall, all from just forty trees.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: ships / yields / donates / stores	yields — "Yields" means produces a crop, which fits apples coming "from just forty trees." The trees grow the fruit; they do not "store," "ship," or "donate" it.
