When the council voted on the new park budget, Councilmember Ortiz [sat out], staying in her seat but casting neither a yes nor a no vote, since her family owned land beside the site.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: abstained / resigned / dissented / departed	abstained — "Abstained" means chose not to vote, which matches casting "neither a yes nor a no vote"; "dissented" would mean she voted no, and "departed" or "resigned" cannot be right because she stayed in her seat.
Marco had never had stomach trouble, but within an hour of eating the shellfish he doubled over, gasping, with [bad] pain, so his parents rushed him to urgent care.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: chronic / dull / residual / acute	acute — "Acute" pain is sharp, severe, and sudden, which fits pain bad enough to make him double over within an hour; "chronic" and "residual" pain linger over time or remain after an earlier illness, which cannot fit someone who "had never had stomach trouble," and "dull" pain is too mild to leave him gasping.
Although she had joined the chess club only in September, the new captain was [good], spotting traps several moves ahead and steering the team to three tournament wins.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: diligent / seasoned / adept / ambitious	adept — "Adept" means highly skilled, and spotting traps several moves ahead shows skill; "seasoned" is tempting but means experienced, which a September newcomer is not, and "diligent" or "ambitious" describe effort or goals rather than skill.
Doctors paused the drug trial after several patients had [bad] reactions: mild rashes and dizziness, exactly what earlier studies had predicted and none of them life-threatening, but enough that the researchers decided to lower the dose.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: unforeseen / severe / adverse / fatal	adverse — "Adverse" means unfavorable or harmful, which fits reactions troubling enough to make researchers lower the dose; "severe" is tempting, but the rashes were "mild," "unforeseen" does not fit reactions studies "had predicted," and "fatal" does not fit "none of them life-threatening."
The museum rejected the sculpture not because it was unsafe, too heavy, or too expensive but for [other] reasons: the judges simply found its colors ugly and its shape awkward.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: structural / ethical / practical / aesthetic	aesthetic — "Aesthetic" reasons have to do with how something looks, matching ugly colors and an awkward shape; "practical" and "structural" reasons are exactly what "unsafe, too heavy, or too expensive" rules out, and nothing about right or wrong suggests "ethical."
At a news conference, reporters asked whether the reopened bridge was safe, and the chief engineer [said] that it was, pointing confidently to inspections completed only a week earlier.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: conceded / affirmed / suggested / speculated	affirmed — "Affirmed" means stated firmly and publicly, which fits an engineer speaking "confidently" with inspections as proof; "suggested" and "speculated" sound tentative, and "conceded" means admitted unwillingly.
The manager's habit of mocking employees in meetings [affected] even his most loyal staff; they were not afraid of him, but they stopped feeling they belonged and, one by one, left for other jobs.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: distracted / alienated / intimidated / overworked	alienated — "Alienated" means made people feel unwelcome and turned them away, matching staff who "stopped feeling they belonged" and left; "intimidated" is tempting, but the sentence says they "were not afraid of him."
Planning exactly how each dollar would be spent on its own buildings, the school board [gave] $40,000 to repairing the gym roof and the remaining money to new library laptops.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: awarded / lent / allocated / donated	allocated — "Allocated" means set aside money for a particular purpose, which fits a board planning how each dollar of its budget would be used; "donated" means giving to someone else, but the money stayed with the board's "own buildings," and "lent" and "awarded" do not fit paying for repairs.
The famous author, who had joked easily with reporters that morning, seemed [different] at the book signing; she was neither angry nor tired, but she kept her distance, barely looking up and offering each fan only a curt nod.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: weary / timid / hostile / aloof	aloof — "Aloof" means cool and distant, matching an author who "kept her distance" and gave only "a curt nod"; "timid" is tempting, but someone who "joked easily with reporters" is not shy, and "neither angry nor tired" rules out "hostile" and "weary."
The film's final scene, a slow and simple shot of the hero opening his eyes, is deliberately [confusing]: both readings make perfect sense, and viewers can't tell whether he has woken from the dream or is still trapped inside it.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: ambiguous / incoherent / convoluted / abrupt	ambiguous — "Ambiguous" means open to more than one reading, exactly the scene's two equally sensible interpretations; "incoherent" means it makes no sense, "abrupt" does not fit a "slow" shot, and "convoluted" does not fit a "simple" one.
Ana felt [unsure] about the scholarship offer, which she knew was genuine: she was thrilled that it would pay for her dream school but heartbroken that it meant living two thousand miles from her family.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: apprehensive / ambivalent / skeptical / complacent	ambivalent — "Ambivalent" means having mixed feelings, matching Ana's being both "thrilled" and "heartbroken"; "skeptical" does not fit an offer she "knew was genuine," and "apprehensive" captures only her worry, not her joy.
Once the scientist realized two data labels were wrong, she [changed] her published report, fixing only those labels, leaving every other word as it was, and keeping the report online with a formal correction notice.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: amended / rewrote / condensed / retracted	amended — "Amended" means formally corrected, which fits fixing two labels and adding "a formal correction notice"; "retracted" would mean withdrawing the report, but she kept it online, and "rewrote" and "condensed" do not fit "leaving every other word as it was."
Explaining that every player, like every musician, must follow the same rhythm, the coach drew [a connection] between a soccer team and an orchestra.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: a distinction / a line / a contrast / an analogy	an analogy — "An analogy" is a comparison that shows how two things are alike, as the words "like every musician" show; "a contrast," "a distinction," and "a line" between two things all point out differences.
Student [attitude] toward the new recycling program was obvious: everyone agreed it was a good idea and knew which bin was which, yet most classmates simply shrugged and kept tossing bottles into the regular trash.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: skepticism / hostility / confusion / apathy	apathy — "Apathy" means a lack of interest or concern, matching students who "simply shrugged"; "hostility" and "skepticism" do not fit students who "agreed it was a good idea," and "confusion" does not fit students who knew "which bin was which."
To [handle] the angry customers demanding refunds for the canceled concert, the manager gave each of them a full refund and a free ticket, and soon the shouting died down.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: inform / appease / distract / evade	appease — "Appease" means to calm people by giving them what they want, which is exactly what the refunds did; "distract" is tempting, but the manager did not divert their attention, he met their demand, and "evade" does not fit someone who dealt with each customer.
Without asking, my little brother [took] my best headphones, with no plan to give them back, and wore them all week as if they had always been his.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: confiscated / appropriated / misplaced / borrowed	appropriated — "Appropriated" means took something for his own use without permission, as if it were his; "borrowed" is ruled out by "no plan to give them back," and "confiscated" means taken away by someone with authority, such as a teacher, not a little brother.
Restoring the 1920s carousel was [hard] work, though the steps were simple, no one was ever at risk, and the volunteers enjoyed every hour: for four years they sanded, painted, and hauled heavy gears by hand, ending each day exhausted.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: intricate / tedious / arduous / hazardous	arduous — "Arduous" means difficult and tiring, matching four years of hauling heavy gears and ending "each day exhausted"; "intricate" does not fit steps that were "simple," "tedious" does not fit volunteers who "enjoyed every hour," and "hazardous" does not fit "no one was ever at risk."
The calm photograph of a single red umbrella on a gray, snowy street had no caption at all, yet it was so [interesting] that people stopped scrolling mid-swipe to stare at it.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: arresting / intricate / disturbing / informative	arresting — "Arresting" means so striking that it stops you, matching people who "stopped scrolling mid-swipe"; "informative" does not fit a photo with "no caption at all," "disturbing" does not fit a "calm" image, and "intricate" does not fit a single umbrella.
During their first week, the hospital interns struggled to [take in] the flood of new procedures; by Tuesday they could rattle off every step on the checklist, but making real sense of the steps, well enough to use them on a busy shift, took the whole month.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: memorize / assimilate / skim / recite	assimilate — "Assimilate" means to absorb information and fully understand it, the slow, hard part that "took the whole month"; "memorize" and "recite" are tempting, but the interns could already "rattle off every step" by Tuesday, and "skim" means reading quickly without real understanding.
Asked to explain the team's winning streak, the coach [connected] it to the extra hours the players had spent practicing free throws before school each morning.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: attributed / compared / likened / dedicated	attributed — "Attributed" means said that something was caused by something else, which fits a coach "asked to explain" the streak; "dedicated" means offered in someone's honor, and "compared" and "likened" mean showing similarity, not cause.
The young company had no rocket and only a one-page sketch, yet it boldly announced its [big] plan to open the first hotel on the moon within five years, a plan investors called both foolhardy and thrilling.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: audacious / conventional / tentative / elaborate	audacious — "Audacious" means extremely bold and daring, sometimes recklessly, matching a plan called "foolhardy and thrilling"; "elaborate" does not fit "a one-page sketch," "tentative" does not fit a plan "boldly announced," and "conventional" does not fit the "first" hotel on the moon.
Keeping every current player in the same seat, the orchestra [built up] its string section by hiring six more violinists, and its sound grew fuller than ever.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: reorganized / diversified / augmented / replaced	augmented — "Augmented" means made larger by adding to it, matching six new violinists added to the existing players; "replaced" and "reorganized" are ruled out by keeping "every current player in the same seat," and "diversified" does not fit adding more of the same instrument.
The captain neither shouted nor tried to comfort anyone; her voice was simply [strong], calm and firm, and the panicked passengers immediately lined up at the lifeboats as she directed.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: frantic / soothing / booming / authoritative	authoritative — "Authoritative" means commanding and confident in a way people obey, matching a "calm and firm" voice that passengers followed at once; "booming" does not fit a captain who "neither shouted," "soothing" does not fit one who did not try "to comfort anyone," and "frantic" does not fit "calm."
The new science teacher gave students more [room] in choosing their projects: rather than offering a list, she let each team design and run its own experiment from start to finish without her stepping in.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: supervision / guidance / autonomy / variety	autonomy — "Autonomy" means the freedom to control your own work, matching teams that ran experiments "without her stepping in"; "guidance" and "supervision" are exactly what she held back, and "variety" is ruled out by "rather than offering a list."
Despite its frightening look and its habit of lunging quickly to bite anyone who disturbs it, the giant spider is completely [fine]: its venom is far too weak to hurt people.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: sluggish / timid / benign / docile	benign — "Benign" means harmless, which fits venom "far too weak to hurt people"; "docile" and "timid" do not fit a spider that bites "anyone who disturbs it," and "sluggish" does not fit one that lunges "quickly."
Jonah showed an early [liking] for music: no one taught him, he rarely asked to play, and he treated his grandmother's piano like any other toy, yet before he could read he was picking out melodies on it by ear, though no one outside the family knew.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: bent / reputation / reverence / fondness	bent — "Bent" means a natural talent or leaning, which fits a child who played melodies by ear though "no one taught him"; "fondness" is tempting, but a boy who "rarely asked to play" shows no special affection, "reverence" does not fit treating the piano "like any other toy," and "reputation" does not fit a skill no one outside the family knew about.
The players were already confident, and the coach's pep talk [helped] that confidence just before tip-off; they ran onto the court cheering, more certain than ever that they would win.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: bolstered / tempered / restored / tested	bolstered — "Bolstered" means strengthened or propped up, which fits confidence that grew to "more certain than ever"; "restored" is tempting but means bringing back something lost, and the players were "already confident," while "tempered" (toned down) and "tested" (challenged) do not fit players who ran out cheering.
Readers loved the weekly column for its [smallness]: without jokes or fancy language, the writer explained a complex science topic in fewer than two hundred words.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: rarity / brevity / elegance / wit	brevity — "Brevity" means shortness in writing, matching "fewer than two hundred words"; "wit" does not fit a column "without jokes," "elegance" does not fit one without "fancy language," and "rarity" does not fit a "weekly" column.
After decades of slow, steady growth, interest in urban gardening has [gone up] across the city; the waiting list for community plots tripled in just two years.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: burgeoned / rebounded / inched upward / stabilized	burgeoned — "Burgeoned" means grew quickly, matching a waiting list that "tripled in just two years"; "rebounded" means recovered after a drop, but interest never fell, and "stabilized" and "inched upward" are far too slow for tripling.
The small piece of platinum was [the thing] that made the reaction speed up, yet when the experiment ended, the platinum weighed exactly as much as it had at the start.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: the fuel / the catalyst / the solvent / the reactant	the catalyst — "The catalyst" is a substance that speeds up a reaction without being used up, which is why the platinum weighed the same afterward; "the fuel" and "the reactant" would be used up, and a solid piece of metal does not act as "the solvent."
The city council voted to [address] the official who had misused public funds; she kept her seat and faced no criminal charges, but the council issued a formal statement condemning her conduct.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: prosecute / dismiss / censor / censure	censure — "Censure" means to criticize strongly and officially, exactly what a "formal statement" of condemnation does; "dismiss" does not fit an official who "kept her seat," "prosecute" does not fit "no criminal charges," and "censor" means to suppress speech or writing.
Weeks after his arrest but before any trial began, prosecutors dropped the [thing] against the teenager once security video proved he had been at the library all evening.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: sentence / warrant / verdict / charge	charge — A "charge" is a formal accusation, which prosecutors can drop before a trial; a "verdict" and a "sentence" come only after a trial, and a "warrant" is used to make an arrest that had already happened.
The documentary [shows] the band's rise from a Bronx garage to sold-out arenas, covering every year in order without praise, commentary, or reenactments.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: summarizes / dramatizes / chronicles / glorifies	chronicles — "Chronicles" means records events in the order they happened, matching "every year in order"; "glorifies" is ruled out by "without praise," "dramatizes" by "without reenactments," and "summarizes" by "covering every year."
Hackers [avoided] the bank's security system, which kept running perfectly and raised no alarm for months; rather than attacking it, they tricked an employee into revealing a password.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: circumvented / exposed / overpowered / disabled	circumvented — "Circumvented" means found a way around something, which fits hackers who skipped the system entirely by tricking an employee; "overpowered" does not fit hackers who did not attack it, "disabled" does not fit a system that "kept running perfectly," and "exposed" does not fit a break-in that went unnoticed for months.
Offering no reasons, rewards, or lies, the older students tried to [push] the freshman into giving up his lunch table, warning that he would regret it if he stayed.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: persuade / trick / bribe / coerce	coerce — "Coerce" means to force someone by threats, which fits the warning that he "would regret it"; "persuade" is tempting, but persuading uses reasons, and they offered "no reasons," while "bribe" needs rewards and "trick" needs lies.
Studies show that regular sleep improves [brain] skills such as memory, attention, and problem-solving.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: cognitive / perceptual / interpersonal / motor	cognitive — "Cognitive" skills are skills of thinking, learning, and remembering, matching memory, attention, and problem-solving; "motor" skills involve movement, "perceptual" skills involve the senses, and "interpersonal" skills involve getting along with others.
Its ideas were familiar, its wording was plain, and it ran long, yet the essay felt [nice] because each paragraph flowed logically into the next and supported the same main idea.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: original / concise / cohesive / eloquent	cohesive — "Cohesive" means unified, with all parts working together, matching paragraphs that "flowed logically" and supported one idea; "eloquent" does not fit "plain" wording, "original" does not fit "familiar" ideas, and "concise" does not fit an essay that "ran long."
At the assembly, the principal handed out no trophies, prizes, or new titles; she simply stood up and [mentioned] the robotics team for their creativity and persistence, and the audience broke into applause.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: nominated / promoted / commended / rewarded	commended — "Commended" means praised publicly, which is all the principal did with words; "rewarded" is ruled out by "no trophies" or "prizes," and "nominated" and "promoted" are ruled out because there were no awards or "new titles."
The novel's plot was simple and familiar and never moved me to tears, but it was so [good] that I stayed up until two in the morning to finish the final chapters.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: touching / intricate / compelling / original	compelling — "Compelling" means so interesting it holds your attention, matching a reader who stayed up "until two in the morning"; "intricate" does not fit a "simple" plot, "original" does not fit a "familiar" one, and "touching" does not fit a story that "never moved me."
After defending his ruling for several minutes, the referee finally watched the replay and reluctantly [said] that he had made the wrong call, reversing his decision.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: insisted / proclaimed / conceded / suspected	conceded — "Conceded" means admitted, often unwillingly, that something is true, matching a referee who spoke "reluctantly" after defending his ruling; "insisted" and "proclaimed" sound forceful, not reluctant, and "suspected" is too uncertain for someone who reversed his decision.
Mr. Reyes asked us to make our chapter summaries [short]: no more than three plain, formal sentences that still covered every main point.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: concise / casual / vivid / selective	concise — "Concise" means brief but complete, which fits three sentences that still cover "every main point"; "selective" is tempting, but it means choosing only some points, and "casual" and "vivid" do not fit sentences that are "plain" and "formal."
Week after week, the coach saw the star player skip practice and, telling no one and offering neither penalty nor praise, chose to [accept] behavior that the team rules clearly forbade.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: reward / condone / publicize / report	condone — "Condone" means to accept or allow behavior that is wrong, matching a coach who let rule-breaking go with no penalty; "reward" is ruled out by "neither penalty nor praise," and "report" and "publicize" are ruled out by "telling no one."
"Childlike" and "childish" share the same root and nearly the same dictionary meaning, but "childish" carries a negative [sense] that suggests immaturity.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: connotation / inflection / etymology / definition	connotation — "Connotation" is the feeling a word suggests beyond its basic meaning, like the negative hint of immaturity; "definition" is ruled out because the words have "nearly the same dictionary meaning," "etymology" because they "share the same root," and "inflection" is a grammatical ending, not a feeling.
Caring nothing about style, the crossing guard wears a plain neon-yellow vest with no badge or logo so that she will look [obvious] to every driver, even in heavy rain when the road is hard to see.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: fashionable / distinguished / official / conspicuous	conspicuous — "Conspicuous" means easy to notice, the whole point of a neon vest in heavy rain; "official" is tempting, but a vest with "no badge or logo" is not meant to show authority, "fashionable" is ruled out by "caring nothing about style," and "distinguished" means dignified, not easy to see.
Drivers know them by heart, accidents are rare, and deliveries arrive on schedule, but the narrow, winding streets of the old city [affect] delivery companies, which can send only small vans that carry half as much as a truck.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: confuse / endanger / delay / constrain	constrain — "Constrain" means to limit, which fits companies that can send "only small vans"; "delay" is tempting, but deliveries "arrive on schedule," "confuse" does not fit drivers who "know them by heart," and "endanger" does not fit streets where "accidents are rare."
The gallery showcases [new] art: realistic oil portraits, painted with traditional techniques by artists from across the globe who are working today.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: contemporary / experimental / abstract / regional	contemporary — "Contemporary" art is art of the present day, matching artists "working today"; "experimental" does not fit "traditional techniques," "abstract" does not fit "realistic" portraits, and "regional" does not fit artists "from across the globe."
Critics complained that the dialogue, though full of current slang, sounded [weird]: every line was so stiff and overly clever that no real teenager would ever speak that way.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: contrived / monotonous / crude / archaic	contrived — "Contrived" means obviously planned and artificial, matching lines so "stiff and overly clever" that no teenager would say them; "archaic" does not fit "current slang," and "crude" and "monotonous" do not fit lines that are "overly clever."
A second laboratory [looked at] the original findings by running the whole experiment again with separate samples; its results matched exactly, and it found no flaws.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: publicized / summarized / critiqued / corroborated	corroborated — "Corroborated" means confirmed with new evidence, matching results that "matched exactly"; "critiqued" does not fit a lab that "found no flaws," and "summarized" and "publicized" do not involve running the experiment again.
After seven straight nights of concerts, each larger than the last, the festival [ended] with a fireworks show over the river, and the stage crews packed up for good that same night.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: resumed / adjourned / culminated / dwindled	culminated — "Culminated" means ended by reaching a peak, which fits a festival that kept growing and finished with fireworks; "dwindled" means faded away, which does not fit nights "each larger than the last," "adjourned" means broke off to meet again later, but the crews packed up "for good," and "resumed" does not fit seven "straight" nights with no break.
During the drought, residents were asked to [change] their water use by skipping lawn watering entirely and taking showers half as long.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: monitor / schedule / redirect / curtail	curtail — "Curtail" means to cut short or reduce, matching skipping watering and halving showers; "monitor" and "schedule" would only track or time water use, and "redirect" would move it elsewhere rather than reduce it.
The family had finished dozens of puzzles before, but completing a thousand-piece one in a single weekend, as a birthday gift for their grandmother, seemed [hard] at first, so huge a job that they nearly gave up before opening the box; once they started, though, every hour was fun.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: unprecedented / daunting / tedious / frivolous	daunting — "Daunting" means so big or difficult that it discourages you, which fits a family that "nearly gave up before opening the box"; "tedious" is tempting, but it means dull, and "every hour was fun," while "unprecedented" does not fit a family that had done "dozens of puzzles before," and "frivolous" does not fit a heartfelt gift.
The neighborhood has never had many affordable apartments, and the few it has are well kept and still standing; the [small amount] of such housing has forced many young families to move farther from the city.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: demolition / decline / dearth / quality	dearth — "Dearth" means a shortage, matching a neighborhood that "has never had many" affordable apartments; "decline" suggests the number once was higher, "quality" does not fit apartments that are "well kept," and "demolition" does not fit buildings "still standing."
The virus [hurt] the marathon runner so badly that for weeks her muscles were too weak to climb stairs, though she could still walk slowly around the block, her spirits stayed high, and she suffered no lasting damage.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: debilitated / discouraged / scarred / paralyzed	debilitated — "Debilitated" means made very weak, which fits muscles "too weak to climb stairs"; "paralyzed" is tempting but means unable to move at all, and she "could still walk," while "discouraged" does not fit spirits that "stayed high" and "scarred" does not fit "no lasting damage."
After reading every entry twice and comparing their scores, the judges, without any doubt, [thought] the essay the strongest in the contest and awarded it first prize.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: presumed / deemed / imagined / suspected	deemed — "Deemed" means judged or considered after thought, matching judges who read every entry twice and decided "without any doubt"; "presumed" means assumed without checking, and "suspected" and "imagined" are too uncertain.
Mei's [attitude] toward her grandfather surprised her friends: he had never asked her to keep the restaurant's old sign, yet she set aside her own taste for a modern name and left it up simply because she knew he preferred it.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: deference / gratitude / sympathy / obedience	deference — "Deference" means respectfully giving way to someone's wishes, matching Mei setting aside her own taste because her grandfather "preferred" the sign; "obedience" is tempting, but he "had never asked her," so she was not following an order.
Because planned expenses ran $50,000 above expected income, the school's budget faced a $50,000 [problem], so the board cut field trips and delayed new textbook orders.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: penalty / deficit / dispute / audit	deficit — "Deficit" means the amount by which money falls short, exactly the gap between expenses and income; a "penalty" is a fine, an "audit" is a financial review, and a "dispute" is an argument, none of which the sentence describes.
Plain, unnumbered white lines, with no signs or meters, [show] the exact edges of each parking space in the new lot.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: number / decorate / enforce / delineate	delineate — "Delineate" means to mark the outline of something, matching lines that show "the exact edges" of each space; "decorate" does not fit "plain" lines, "number" does not fit "unnumbered" ones, and "enforce" does not fit a lot "with no signs or meters."
Many longtime residents, though they never protested or doubted the city's reasons, [disliked] the demolition of the historic theater, publicly calling it a shameful loss for the community.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: resisted / deplored / questioned / predicted	deplored — "Deplored" means strongly disapproved of, matching residents who called the demolition "a shameful loss"; "resisted" is ruled out because they "never protested," "questioned" because they never "doubted the city's reasons," and "predicted" does not fit judging something that already happened.
Too much fertilizer has [bad] effects on a garden that are entirely predictable and can last for years: it burns plant roots and pollutes nearby streams.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: negligible / unpredictable / detrimental / temporary	detrimental — "Detrimental" means harmful, matching fertilizer that "burns plant roots and pollutes nearby streams"; "unpredictable" is ruled out by "entirely predictable," "temporary" by "can last for years," and "negligible" means too small to matter.
The film's narrator keeps pausing the story to lecture viewers, dryly and sincerely, about the importance of kindness, giving the movie [a certain] tone that many critics found heavy-handed.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: a whimsical / a sentimental / a sarcastic / a didactic	a didactic — "Didactic" means aimed at teaching a lesson, often in a preachy way, which fits a narrator who keeps stopping "to lecture viewers"; "sentimental" does not fit lectures given "dryly," "sarcastic" does not fit lectures given "sincerely," and "whimsical" (playful and fanciful) does not fit a tone critics found "heavy-handed."
The [quiet] new student, who smiled warmly and clearly loved the class, rarely raised his hand because he doubted his ideas were good enough, though his written answers were often the best in the room.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: aloof / indifferent / sullen / diffident	diffident — "Diffident" means shy and lacking self-confidence, matching a student who "doubted his ideas were good enough"; "sullen" and "aloof" do not fit someone who "smiled warmly," and "indifferent" does not fit a student who "clearly loved the class."
Speaking in the same calm voice all afternoon, the tour guide kept [moving] from the history of the cathedral to long stories about his cat that had nothing to do with the tour, then drifting back without ever seeming to notice he had left.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: escalating / advancing / pivoting / digressing	digressing — "Digressing" means wandering away from the main subject, which fits stories that "had nothing to do with the tour"; "pivoting" is tempting, but it means a deliberate turn to a new focus, and he never seemed "to notice he had left," while "advancing" suggests moving forward through the tour and "escalating" does not fit "the same calm voice."
The critic held no personal grudge against the director, yet her review dripped with [feeling] toward the film, which she dismissed as "two hours of noise pretending to be a story."  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: resentment / indifference / disdain / suspicion	disdain — "Disdain" means the feeling that something is beneath your respect, which fits dismissing the film as worthless "noise"; "resentment" is tempting but means bitterness at being wronged, which "no personal grudge" rules out, "indifference" does not fit a review that "dripped" with feeling, and "suspicion" does not fit a critic so sure of her verdict.
Repeating her points word for word, the rival debater [talked about] her arguments in a sneering tone, calling them childish and worthless and offering no reasons of his own.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: disparaged / misquoted / summarized / analyzed	disparaged — "Disparaged" means spoke of something as if it had little value, matching a debater who called her arguments "childish and worthless"; "analyzed" does not fit someone "offering no reasons," "misquoted" does not fit "word for word," and "summarized" does not involve sneering insults.
Advocates pointed to the [issue] between what the company's executives earn and what its warehouse workers are paid: a gap of three hundred times, which they called deeply unfair.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: overlap / correlation / disparity / balance	disparity — "Disparity" means a large and often unfair difference, matching a "gap of three hundred times"; "correlation" describes amounts that rise and fall together, and "balance" and "overlap" suggest the amounts are similar, which a huge gap rules out.
The health department [put out] information about the flu vaccine across the entire city, sending texts, hanging posters, and buying radio ads in twelve languages.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: verified / disseminated / archived / compiled	disseminated — "Disseminated" means spread information widely, matching texts, posters, and radio ads "across the entire city"; "compiled" means gathered, "verified" means checked, and "archived" means stored, none of which spreads information.
My uncle knows little about music or cooking and seldom shares his views unless asked, but once he does, he is completely [sure] about them and refuses to consider anyone else's point of view.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: curious / knowledgeable / vocal / dogmatic	dogmatic — "Dogmatic" means insisting your beliefs are right and refusing other views, exactly what "refuses to consider anyone else's point of view" describes; "knowledgeable" is ruled out by "knows little," "vocal" by "seldom shares his views," and "curious" by his refusal to consider other ideas.
Maya owns only a dozen popular, secondhand paperbacks, but her collection is [mixed]: graphic novels, poetry, astronomy guides, and a Russian cookbook.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: eclectic / valuable / obscure / extensive	eclectic — "Eclectic" means drawn from many different types or styles, matching the wide range of genres; "extensive" does not fit "only a dozen" books, "valuable" does not fit "secondhand paperbacks," and "obscure" does not fit "popular" titles.
Scientists agree that the new sunscreen causes no rashes, costs less than a sandwich, and feels light on the skin; what they are still debating is its [power]: how well it actually blocks ultraviolet rays during long days at the beach.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: appeal / safety / efficacy / affordability	efficacy — "Efficacy" means the ability to produce the intended result, here blocking ultraviolet rays; "safety" (no rashes), "affordability" (a low price), and "appeal" (how it feels to wear) are the qualities scientists already "agree" on, so none of them is what is still being debated.
With one playful question about time travel, the teacher [got] a flood of creative answers from even the quietest students, though she required no one to speak and nothing said that day counted toward anyone's report card.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: elicited / demanded / graded / rewarded	elicited — "Elicited" means drew out a response, which fits a question that brought out answers no one was forced to give; "demanded" is ruled out by "required no one to speak," and "graded" and "rewarded" do not fit answers that counted for nothing on "anyone's report card."
For many fans, the quiet veteran goalkeeper, who rarely gave interviews, [was like] the club's century-old spirit of grit and loyalty, playing through injuries for fifteen seasons.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: invented / embodied / advertised / described	embodied — "Embodied" means was a living example of a quality, matching a player whose actions showed grit and loyalty; "invented" does not fit a "century-old" spirit, and "described" and "advertised" do not fit a quiet player who "rarely gave interviews."
Rather than relying on computer models, old records, or fishermen's stories, the team gathered [real] evidence by measuring the river's temperature every day for a year, though a second year of data would be needed before anyone could be sure what it meant.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: conclusive / anecdotal / empirical / historical	empirical — "Empirical" evidence comes from direct observation and measurement, which fits daily temperature readings; "anecdotal" evidence comes from stories and "historical" evidence from old records, both of which the team set aside, and the evidence was not yet "conclusive" because no one could "be sure what it meant."
Young chefs often [follow] the masters they admire, not by praising them or resenting their fame, and usually without ever meeting them, but by practicing their techniques alone until they can match, or even beat, their skill.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: envy / consult / flatter / emulate	emulate — "Emulate" means to copy someone you admire while trying to equal or surpass them, which fits chefs practicing "until they can match, or even beat" the masters; "flatter" does not fit chefs who are "not praising them," "envy" does not fit chefs who are not "resenting their fame," and "consult" does not fit chefs who never meet the masters.
In a front-page editorial, the newspaper enthusiastically [went with] the mayor's plan to build a new library, urging readers to vote for it at the town meeting.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: tolerated / endorsed / proposed / debated	endorsed — "Endorsed" means publicly supported, matching an editorial "urging readers to vote for it"; "tolerated" is too reluctant for "enthusiastically," "debated" does not fit one-sided support, and "proposed" does not fit a plan that was "the mayor's."
Although she did not yet believe the far-fetched theory, the scientist was open-minded enough to [think about] it seriously for a few days, without mentioning it to anyone, before deciding whether it deserved a single hour of lab time.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: test / accept / entertain / endorse	entertain — "Entertain" means to be willing to consider an idea, which fits a scientist who thought it over "seriously for a few days"; "accept" is ruled out because "she did not yet believe" it, "endorse" means publicly support, which does not fit "without mentioning it to anyone," and "test" does not fit an idea she had not yet given any lab time.
The bright, detailed chalk drawings that covered the entire plaza were beautiful but [short], washed away by the first afternoon rain.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: crude / compact / ephemeral / faint	ephemeral — "Ephemeral" means lasting a very short time, matching drawings "washed away by the first afternoon rain"; "faint" does not fit "bright" drawings, "crude" does not fit "detailed" ones, and "compact" does not fit drawings that "covered the entire plaza."
The coaches wanted the playing-time system to be [good], so instead of rewarding the best players or changing it week to week, they used a fixed rotation that gave everyone roughly equal minutes, even though the stars' parents complained loudly.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: popular / equitable / flexible / competitive	equitable — "Equitable" means fair to everyone involved, which fits a rotation that gave "everyone roughly equal minutes"; "competitive" does not fit a system that stopped "rewarding the best players," "flexible" does not fit a "fixed" rotation, and "popular" does not fit a plan parents "complained loudly" about.
The gardeners worked for three summers to [get rid of] the invasive weeds, pulling every last root so that not a single plant would ever return and the native wildflowers could take their place.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: control / relocate / trim / eradicate	eradicate — "Eradicate" means to destroy completely, matching "every last root" and "not a single plant would ever return"; "control" is tempting but means keeping something in check, not removing it entirely, and "trim" and "relocate" leave the weeds alive.
The map's directions to the trailhead were simple, detailed, and covered every turn, yet they were [bad], sending dozens of hikers down an abandoned logging road.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: complicated / vague / incomplete / erroneous	erroneous — "Erroneous" means wrong or mistaken, matching directions that sent hikers down the wrong road; "vague" does not fit "detailed" directions, "complicated" does not fit "simple" ones, and "incomplete" does not fit directions that "covered every turn."
The podcast's calm, serious episodes cover [weird] topics, such as the history of the paperclip and the grammar of extinct languages, that usually interest only a handful of specialists.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: sensational / trivial / esoteric / controversial	esoteric — "Esoteric" means understood or enjoyed by only a small group with special knowledge, matching topics for "a handful of specialists"; "trivial" does not fit "serious" episodes, "sensational" does not fit "calm" ones, and "controversial" topics would draw wide argument, not a tiny audience.
The town had flooded every spring for decades, and cutting down the trees along the riverbank [changed] the flooding, sending higher water into the same low streets, though it drained away as quickly as ever.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: caused / redirected / prolonged / exacerbated	exacerbated — "Exacerbated" means made an already bad situation worse, which fits "higher water" in a town that already flooded; "caused" does not fit flooding that had happened "for decades," "prolonged" does not fit water that "drained away as quickly as ever," and "redirected" does not fit "the same low streets."
The ballet director held dancers to [high] standards, clear ones, thoughtfully adjusted to each dancer's body, that every dancer eventually met, making them repeat a single turn fifty times until every angle was perfect.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: impossible / arbitrary / exacting / rigid	exacting — "Exacting" means demanding great care and precision, which fits fifty repetitions "until every angle was perfect"; "rigid" is tempting, but the standards were "adjusted to each dancer's body," "arbitrary" does not fit standards that were "clear" and "thoughtfully" set, and "impossible" does not fit standards "every dancer eventually met."
The volunteers who quietly rebuilt the playground after the storm, without speeches or praise, [show] the generous spirit the community has had since its founding and has never lost.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: invent / exemplify / restore / describe	exemplify — "Exemplify" means to be a clear example of something, which fits volunteers whose actions demonstrate the community's generosity; "describe" does not fit people who worked "quietly" and "without speeches," "restore" does not fit a spirit the community "has never lost," and "invent" does not fit one it has had "since its founding."
Rather than rewriting the whole report, the team took the [easy] route, quickly fixing only the most obvious errors so they could meet the deadline, and they openly warned the client that some flaws remained.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: expedient / ambitious / cautious / deceptive	expedient — "Expedient" means convenient and quick, though not ideal, which fits a fast fix that left some "flaws"; "deceptive" is tempting for a shortcut, but they "openly warned the client," "cautious" does not fit working "quickly," and "ambitious" does not fit fixing "only the most obvious errors."
Once, in two short sentences that left nothing to guess, the lifeguard gave [some] instructions: swim only between the red buoys, and leave the water immediately if you hear a whistle.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: explicit / repeated / lengthy / complicated	explicit — "Explicit" means stated clearly and directly, matching instructions that "left nothing to guess"; "lengthy" and "complicated" do not fit "two short sentences," and "repeated" does not fit instructions given "once."
Good test-takers learn to ignore [other] information in a word problem: details such as the color of the train, which are true and clearly stated but have nothing to do with the answer.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: hidden / ambiguous / inaccurate / extraneous	extraneous — "Extraneous" means not relevant or needed, matching details that "have nothing to do with the answer"; "inaccurate" does not fit details that "are true," and "ambiguous" and "hidden" do not fit details that are "clearly stated."
Mr. Grant asked us to analyze every [part] of the character's personality, which stays the same from the first chapter to the last, from her stubbornness to her secret kindness.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: facet / virtue / flaw / phase	facet — "Facet" means one side or aspect of something, matching both good and bad traits; "flaw" does not fit "kindness," "virtue" does not fit "stubbornness," and "phase" does not fit a personality that "stays the same" throughout.
The idea that we use only ten percent of our brains is a common [thing]; scientists stopped arguing about it long ago, since brain scans clearly show activity throughout the brain.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: finding / hypothesis / fallacy / debate	fallacy — "Fallacy" means a mistaken belief, which fits an idea that brain scans have disproved; a "hypothesis" is an idea still being tested, a "debate" is ruled out because scientists "stopped arguing about it long ago," and a "finding" would be supported by the scans, not contradicted by them.
The software [noted] any essay containing copied passages, changing nothing and assigning no score, so that a teacher could review it.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: graded / corrected / deleted / flagged	flagged — "Flagged" means marked for attention, matching essays set aside "so that a teacher could review" them; "deleted" and "corrected" are ruled out by "changing nothing," and "graded" by "assigning no score."
With only twenty dollars left for the week, Leo decided he couldn't afford [fun] purchases, even cheap, long-planned, plain-looking ones like a fourth black phone case he did not need.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: extravagant / flashy / impulsive / frivolous	frivolous — "Frivolous" means silly and lacking real purpose, which fits a fourth phone case "he did not need"; "extravagant" does not fit "cheap" purchases, "impulsive" does not fit "long-planned" ones, and "flashy" does not fit a "plain-looking" black case.
The coach's fiery halftime speech, which blasted the team's lazy defense and laid out one clear plan, [affected] the exhausted players, who stormed back onto the field and scored three goals.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: soothed / galvanized / flattered / confused	galvanized — "Galvanized" means jolted someone into sudden action, which fits exhausted players who "stormed back" and scored; "soothed" does not fit a "fiery" speech, "flattered" does not fit a speech that "blasted" their defense, and "confused" does not fit "one clear plan."
Dolphins are [friendly] animals: they live in pods of up to a thousand and constantly communicate with one another, though they are often wary of humans and can be rough with each other.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: gregarious / affectionate / territorial / docile	gregarious — "Gregarious" means living in groups and enjoying company, matching pods "of up to a thousand" that "constantly communicate"; "docile" and "affectionate" do not fit animals that are "wary of humans" and "rough with each other," and "territorial" does not fit sharing space with a thousand others.
Heavy snow [bothered] the crews' efforts to repair the power lines; the work started on schedule and never stopped, and no one was ever in danger, but progress slowed to a crawl.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: halted / postponed / hampered / endangered	hampered — "Hampered" means got in the way of and slowed, which fits progress that "slowed to a crawl"; "halted" does not fit work that "never stopped," "postponed" does not fit work that "started on schedule," and "endangered" does not fit "no one was ever in danger."
Every warning about icebergs reached the captain, who signed for each one, copied it into the ship's record book, and passed it around to his officers; had he [heard] them, the ship might have slowed down and avoided disaster.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: acknowledged / circulated / heeded / logged	heeded — "Heeded" means paid attention to and acted on, which is what the captain failed to do, since the ship never slowed; "acknowledged" does not fit a captain who "signed for each one," "logged" does not fit one who copied each warning "into the ship's record book," and "circulated" does not fit one who "passed it around to his officers."
The restaurant's kitchen has a clear [setup] that stays exactly the same every shift: the head chef at the top, followed by the sous-chef, the line cooks, and finally the dishwashers.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: rotation / hierarchy / partnership / timetable	hierarchy — "Hierarchy" means a ranking from top to bottom, which fits the head chef "at the top" followed by lower ranks; "rotation" does not fit an order that "stays exactly the same every shift," "partnership" suggests equals, and "timetable" is about times, not ranks.
Her apology, delivered smoothly and in a cheerful voice, sounded [strange], since she was smirking and checking her phone the entire time she spoke.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: hollow / awkward / tearful / bitter	hollow — "Hollow" means without real meaning or sincerity, which fits an apology given while "smirking and checking her phone"; "awkward" does not fit an apology "delivered smoothly," "tearful" does not fit someone "smirking," and "bitter" does not fit "a cheerful voice."
Critics accused the company of [unfairness] for deliberately advertising itself as eco-friendly while secretly dumping waste into the river.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: negligence / hypocrisy / incompetence / arrogance	hypocrisy — "Hypocrisy" means claiming standards you do not actually follow, matching a company calling itself "eco-friendly" while polluting; "negligence" and "incompetence" suggest careless mistakes, which "deliberately" and "secretly" rule out, and "arrogance" does not capture the gap between words and actions.
The design school, founded only last year, was guided by a clear [thing], not a list of courses or rules but a shared conviction: that beautiful objects should also be useful and affordable for ordinary people.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: tradition / ideology / regulation / curriculum	ideology — "Ideology" means a set of beliefs that guides a group, matching a "shared conviction" about design; "curriculum" is ruled out by "not a list of courses," "regulation" by "or rules," and "tradition" by a school "founded only last year."
In the board game, one simple rule, printed in bold on the box lid and binding on every player, is [firm]: no card, deal, or vote can ever change it, so no player may move backward.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: optional / immutable / complex / obscure	immutable — "Immutable" means unable to be changed, which fits a rule that nothing "can ever change"; "obscure" does not fit a rule "printed in bold on the box lid," "complex" does not fit a "simple" rule, and "optional" does not fit a rule "binding on every player."
Even after her opponent's brilliant move, the chess champion kept her face [calm], revealing neither worry nor confidence, though inside she was alarmed.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: smug / cheerful / impassive / anxious	impassive — "Impassive" means showing no emotion at all, which fits a face "revealing neither worry nor confidence"; "anxious" would reveal worry, "smug" would reveal confidence, and "cheerful" would reveal happiness, so each describes a face that shows a feeling.
With the storm only two hours away and every boat still untied, it was [important] for the harbor crew, who had never faced such a storm, to finish the job before the wind struck; no rule or boss required it, but any delay could sink the whole fleet.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: imperative / mandatory / feasible / customary	imperative — "Imperative" means absolutely necessary and urgent, which fits a job where "any delay could sink the whole fleet"; "mandatory" is tempting, but it means required by a rule or authority, and "no rule or boss required it," while "feasible" only means possible and "customary" does not fit a crew that "had never faced such a storm."
Students openly admitted that the sharp rise in bus fares was the [thing] that finally pushed them to start a bike-sharing club; the idea had sat untouched for years until then.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: precursor / impetus / pretext / prerequisite	impetus — An "impetus" is the force that pushes something into motion, matching what "finally pushed" the students to act; "pretext" is tempting, but a pretext is a false reason, and the students openly admitted the real one.
The director never said a word about it, but the message behind her casting choice was [there]: effort mattered more than experience, and every actor in the cast understood it at once.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: implicit / ambiguous / latent / cryptic	implicit — "Implicit" means understood without being said, which fits a message she "never said a word about" that everyone grasped; "cryptic" and "ambiguous" fail because the cast "understood it at once."
Even though she had checked the file three times, the editor's [wrong] deletion of a single line crashed the program; she had only meant to remove an extra blank space.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: hasty / irresponsible / inadvertent / careless	inadvertent — "Inadvertent" means not done on purpose, which fits an editor who "had only meant to remove an extra blank space"; "careless" is the tempting choice, but she "checked the file three times."
The bouncy cartoon music, perfectly in tune and pleasant on its own, sounded [strange] beside the documentary's slow footage of melting glaciers, as if it belonged to a different film entirely.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: shrill / monotonous / discordant / incongruous	incongruous — "Incongruous" means out of place in its surroundings, matching music that seemed to belong "to a different film"; "discordant" and "shrill" describe bad sound, but the music was "perfectly in tune and pleasant on its own."
Compared with the flooded basement, the scratch on the kitchen table, though permanent and easy to spot, seemed [small] to the landlord, who didn't even bother to mention it.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: inconsequential / imperceptible / inconspicuous / temporary	inconsequential — "Inconsequential" means too minor to matter, which explains why the landlord did not bother to mention it; "inconspicuous" is tempting, but the scratch was "easy to spot."
For the night-shift nurses, the break-room coffee machine, which day-shift staff barely touched, was so [useful] that they petitioned for a backup the day it broke; none of them could imagine getting through an overnight shift without it.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: convenient / indispensable / popular / notorious	indispensable — "Indispensable" means impossible to do without, which fits nurses who could not imagine a shift "without it"; "convenient" means merely handy, too weak for that need, "popular" does not fit a machine most staff "barely touched," and "notorious" means famous for something bad, not something the nurses fought to keep.
After the twelve-mile hike, Dev lay [quiet] on the couch for an hour, wide awake and not in pain, every muscle slack, unable to move even to reach for the remote.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: inert / rigid / sore / drowsy	inert — "Inert" means not moving at all, which fits someone "unable to move even to reach for the remote"; "drowsy" is tempting, but Dev was "wide awake," and "sore" fails because he was "not in pain."
The seventh graders' plan for keeping the classroom plants alive over winter break was [good]: a simple trick, never tried before at the school, in which cotton wicks slowly drew water from buckets into each pot.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: conventional / ingenious / sophisticated / elaborate	ingenious — "Ingenious" means clever and inventive, fitting a "simple trick, never tried before"; "elaborate" and "sophisticated" suggest something complex or large, and the plan was simple.
Some uncertainty is [normal] in every long-range weather forecast, no matter how powerful the computers, because the atmosphere itself is too complex to predict perfectly.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: accidental / incidental / inherent / deliberate	inherent — "Inherent" means built into the nature of something, which fits uncertainty that exists "because the atmosphere itself is too complex"; "incidental" suggests a minor side effect, but this uncertainty comes from the forecast's very nature.
Never once naming the chef or making a direct accusation, the food critic [said], with a sly remark about "borrowed genius," that the restaurant's famous dish had been copied from a rival.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: conceded / alleged / divulged / insinuated	insinuated — To "insinuate" is to hint at something unpleasant indirectly, matching a "sly remark" with no "direct accusation"; "alleged" is tempting, but an allegation is a direct claim of wrongdoing.
Although anyone was welcome to join and its meetings were open to the public, the book club had grown [closed]: members read only the same few authors and dismissed every new writer as a passing fad.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: exclusive / secretive / insular / cliquish	insular — "Insular" means narrow-minded and cut off from outside ideas, matching members who "dismissed every new writer"; "exclusive" and "cliquish" fail because "anyone was welcome to join."
Each student has [an important] role on the robotics team: one designs, one codes, and one drives, no role earns more credit than the others, and if any single role is missing, the machine cannot compete at all.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: an incidental / a beneficial / a prestigious / an integral	an integral — "Integral" means necessary to make the whole complete, which fits a robot that "cannot compete at all" if any role is missing; "beneficial" only means helpful, not required, "prestigious" does not fit roles where none "earns more credit," and "incidental" means minor, which no role here is.
After double-checking her air supply and safety line, the [cool] young cave diver squeezed through passages so narrow and dark that even veteran divers refused to follow her.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: reckless / seasoned / intrepid / impulsive	intrepid — "Intrepid" means fearless and adventurous, fitting a diver who went where "even veteran divers refused to follow"; "reckless" is tempting, but she carefully double-checked her equipment first.
When the river crested, it [covered] the low-lying farms, leaving them beneath six feet of standing water for nearly a week.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: irrigated / drenched / saturated / inundated	inundated — To "inundate" is to flood completely, matching farms left "beneath six feet of standing water"; "saturated" and "drenched" mean soaked, which is far less than being buried under deep water.
Arguing that the referee had made a mistake, the coach [brought up] Rule 14, reading its exact wording aloud to support her case that play should have stopped for the injured player.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: invoked / amended / enforced / waived	invoked — To "invoke" a rule is to call on it for support, exactly what the coach does by reading it "to support her case"; "enforced" is tempting, but enforcing rules is the referee's job, not the arguing coach's.
The [oddness] was hard to miss: the spelling-bee champion misspelled her own name on the trophy form.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: hypocrisy / irony / coincidence / mystery	irony — "Irony" is a contrast between what is expected and what happens, like a spelling champion misspelling her own name; "hypocrisy" is tempting, but she never preached a standard she failed to follow.
The new interns struggled to follow the meeting because the engineers kept using [words] like "latency" and "load balancing" that only people in their field understood.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: slang / clichés / euphemisms / jargon	jargon — "Jargon" is the special vocabulary of a profession, matching terms "only people in their field understood"; "slang" is tempting, but slang is casual everyday speech, not technical language.
The chef's use of salt was [smart]: she adjusted it to each dish, adding more to the bland potatoes and barely a pinch to the sweet tomatoes, so it brought out every flavor without overpowering any.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: uniform / sparing / judicious / generous	judicious — "Judicious" means showing good judgment, which fits a chef who adjusts the salt to each dish; "sparing" is tempting, but she added more to the potatoes, so she was not always using little.
The film's opening [puts] the bustling city and the silent desert on a split screen, side by side, so that each place looks more extreme next to the other.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: juxtaposes / alternates / blends / superimposes	juxtaposes — To "juxtapose" is to place things side by side for contrast, exactly what a split screen does; "alternates" is tempting, but the two scenes appear at the same time, not one after the other.
With only one match left and no fire yet, the scouts used dry pine needles and birch bark to [start] the campfire before the rain arrived.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: kindle / stoke / tend / feed	kindle — To "kindle" is to set something on fire, which fits scouts who had "no fire yet"; "stoke," "tend" and "feed" all describe caring for a fire that is already burning.
Coach Rivera saw [some] talent in the quiet freshman that no one else had noticed, talent that stayed out of sight until he finally got the ball and, by spring, led the league in scoring.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: latent / modest / dubious / waning	latent — "Latent" means present but hidden, fitting talent that "stayed out of sight" until later; "modest" fails because he went on to lead the league, and "waning" fails because the talent grew.
After staying up until 3 a.m., Kenji was in a perfectly good mood but felt [bad] all morning, dragging himself from class to class and nodding off during history.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: lethargic / irritable / queasy / anxious	lethargic — "Lethargic" means sluggish and low on energy, matching "dragging himself" and "nodding off"; "irritable" is tempting after a short night, but Kenji was "in a perfectly good mood."
The astronomer's explanation of black holes was [good]: though it ran nearly an hour, skipped the hard math and used no pictures, it was so clear that even the fourth graders in the front row could repeat it afterward.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: thorough / vivid / lucid / concise	lucid — "Lucid" means clear and easy to understand, matching an explanation fourth graders "could repeat"; "concise" fails because it "ran nearly an hour," and "vivid" fails because it "used no pictures."
Even though his rival had mocked him all through the campaign, Marcus was [nice] after losing the race for class president: forgiving every insult and expecting nothing in return, he offered to spend his weekends helping plan her first event.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: diplomatic / courteous / magnanimous / compliant	magnanimous — "Magnanimous" means generous and forgiving toward a rival, fitting someone who forgave "every insult"; "courteous" only means polite, which falls short of giving up his weekends for her.
Gold is so [soft] that a single ounce can be hammered flat into a sheet covering about a hundred square feet, and the sheet stays exactly where it is pressed.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: malleable / elastic / ductile / compressible	malleable — "Malleable" means able to be hammered or pressed into shape, matching gold "hammered flat into a sheet"; "ductile" is tempting, but it means able to be drawn out into wire, and "elastic" materials spring back.
The improvement from the new fertilizer appeared in the first week, held steady all season and showed up evenly in every row, but it was [small], barely enough to justify the high cost.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: temporary / uneven / gradual / marginal	marginal — "Marginal" means slight, fitting a gain "barely enough to justify the high cost"; "gradual" fails because it appeared in the first week, and "temporary" fails because it "held steady all season."
When the furious customer started yelling, the manager's reply was [fine]: slow, carefully worded and warm, though she firmly explained at length why the refund was impossible.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: monotonous / curt / timid / measured	measured — "Measured" means careful and controlled, matching a reply that was "slow, carefully worded"; "curt" fails because she explained "at length," and "timid" fails because she spoke "firmly."
Though the collection held only forty photographs and she was months behind, the archivist kept [good] records, labeling every one with the exact date, the place and the full name of each person in it, using the same simple labels archivists had used for a century.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: meticulous / extensive / prompt / innovative	meticulous — "Meticulous" means extremely careful about details, matching the exact date, place and full name on every photo; "extensive" fails because the collection was small, and "prompt" fails because she was "months behind."
Planting trees along the avenue helped [fix] the summer heat, cooling the sidewalks by several degrees, although July afternoons there were still uncomfortably hot.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: postpone / eliminate / mitigate / measure	mitigate — To "mitigate" is to make something less severe, fitting a few degrees of cooling; "eliminate" is tempting, but the afternoons "were still uncomfortably hot."
The heavy rain on Saturday [ruined] all the work volunteers had done to dry out the baseball field, leaving it exactly as soggy as before they started.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: complicated / negated / delayed / diminished	negated — To "negate" is to cancel out completely, matching a field left "exactly as soggy as before"; "diminished" is tempting, but it means reduced, and the rain wiped out the work entirely.
Despite the hail battering the windows, the pilot's voice over the speaker sounded [fine]: flat, unhurried and almost bored, as though the turbulence were the dullest part of her day.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: soothing / nonchalant / solemn / jovial	nonchalant — "Nonchalant" means casually unconcerned, matching a voice that was "almost bored"; "soothing" is tempting, but she was not trying to comfort anyone, and "jovial" means jolly.
The actor's performance captured every [thing] in the character's mood, from a flicker of doubt to a half-hidden smile.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: outburst / stereotype / extreme / nuance	nuance — A "nuance" is a subtle shade of feeling, like "a flicker of doubt" or "a half-hidden smile"; "extreme" and "outburst" describe big, obvious emotions, the opposite of these tiny details.
Even after three experiments disproved his theory, the professor remained [firm], calmly and without a trace of anger refusing, year after year, to consider any other explanation.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: defensive / unpredictable / obstinate / indignant	obstinate — "Obstinate" means stubbornly refusing to change one's mind, matching years of refusing "to consider any other explanation"; "indignant" and "defensive" fail because he stayed calm "without a trace of anger."
After comparing twelve possible sites for cloud cover, darkness and elevation, the astronomy club drove three hours to the one that scored highest on all three, the [good] spot for watching the eclipse.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: panoramic / adequate / optimal / convenient	optimal — "Optimal" means best possible, matching the site that "scored highest on all three"; "adequate" only means good enough, and "convenient" fails because it was a three-hour drive.
Rather than trying a risky new recipe, the bakery stuck with the [usual] method for its bread, a carefully refined technique that bakers across the region had followed for centuries.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: primitive / makeshift / orthodox / eccentric	orthodox — "Orthodox" means following the accepted, traditional way, matching a technique bakers "had followed for centuries"; "primitive" is tempting for an old method, but this one was "carefully refined."
The businessman's donation ceremony cost almost nothing and lasted two minutes, but it was [loud]: he unveiled a cardboard check with his name in glittering letters and paused so every camera could catch him beside it.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: elaborate / lavish / extravagant / ostentatious	ostentatious — "Ostentatious" means showy in order to impress, matching a man posing so "every camera could catch him"; "lavish" and "extravagant" suggest big spending, but the ceremony "cost almost nothing."
Throughout the three-day hurricane evacuation, getting elderly residents out was the [main] concern of the rescue teams, placed ahead of property, pets and even their own equipment.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: initial / recurring / lingering / paramount	paramount — "Paramount" means more important than anything else, matching a concern "placed ahead of" everything; "initial" fails because it lasted "throughout the three-day" evacuation.
Because the scoreboard broke at halftime, the newspaper printed [some] results: every first-half number was exact and final, but the second half was missing entirely.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: tentative / approximate / preliminary / partial	partial — "Partial" means incomplete, fitting results with "the second half missing"; "preliminary" is tempting, but preliminary results are early versions awaiting change, and these numbers were "exact and final."
The essay's ideas were sound and its sentences short, clear and free of errors, but the writing was [boring], filled with predictable phrases and without a single flash of originality.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: ungrammatical / pedestrian / verbose / convoluted	pedestrian — "Pedestrian" means ordinary and dull, matching "predictable phrases"; "verbose" and "convoluted" fail because the sentences were "short, clear," and "ungrammatical" fails because they were "free of errors."
After just one glance at her report card, the [smart] school counselor noticed that Mia's grades dropped every time her practice schedule changed, a pattern her teachers had missed for months.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: diligent / perceptive / compassionate / persistent	perceptive — "Perceptive" means quick to notice and understand, fitting a counselor who spotted the pattern "after just one glance"; "diligent" and "persistent" suggest long, steady effort, not one quick look.
The waiter, tired after a double shift, gave an apology that was [flat]: pleasantly enough, he recited the same full minute of stock phrases he used every night, never looking up and clearly not meaning a word.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: curt / grudging / perfunctory / hasty	perfunctory — "Perfunctory" means done as a routine without real care, matching "stock phrases he used every night"; "curt" and "hasty" fail because the apology lasted a "full minute," and "grudging" fails because he spoke "pleasantly enough."
The committee spent its whole meeting debating [side] issues, such as banner colors and the seating chart, easy questions that could have waited weeks, and never reached the central question of the budget.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: peripheral / urgent / controversial / complex	peripheral — "Peripheral" means on the edges, not central, which fits issues set against "the central question of the budget"; "urgent" fails because they "could have waited weeks," and "complex" fails because they were "easy."
Smartphones, no longer new, trendy or envied, have become so [common] in classrooms, appearing in every grade and nearly every pocket, that some teachers now collect them in a basket at the door.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: fashionable / novel / pervasive / coveted	pervasive — "Pervasive" means spread through every part, matching phones in "every grade and nearly every pocket"; "fashionable" fails because they are no longer "trendy," and "coveted" fails because they are no longer "envied."
Little noticed by the public and never disputed by experts, the discovery of the Rosetta Stone was the [important] event on which everything else depended: only through it could scholars finally read Egyptian hieroglyphs.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: celebrated / sensational / pivotal / controversial	pivotal — "Pivotal" means so important that other things depend on it, matching the event "on which everything else depended"; "celebrated" and "sensational" fail because it was "little noticed by the public."
Rather than holding out for a brand-new gym that might take years, the principal's approach was [simple]: rent the community center three afternoons a week, even at a higher yearly cost, so the teams could start practicing now.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: sentimental / frugal / pragmatic / diplomatic	pragmatic — "Pragmatic" means practical and realistic, fitting a plan that gets teams practicing "now" instead of waiting; "frugal" is tempting, but renting came "at a higher yearly cost."
Stacked twelve high in a perfectly straight column on the wobbly cart, the unbreakable plastic plates looked [bad]: one bump would send the whole tower sliding to the floor.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: precarious / disorganized / fragile / cluttered	precarious — "Precarious" means dangerously unstable, matching a tower that "one bump" would topple; "fragile" fails because the plates were "unbreakable," and "disorganized" fails because the column was "perfectly straight."
No robotics team from our school had ever reached the national finals, so there was no [example] to follow, and no one knew what to expect.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: incentive / precedent / consensus / mandate	precedent — A "precedent" is an earlier case that serves as a guide, and no team "had ever reached the national finals" before; "mandate" is tempting, but it means an official order, which has nothing to do with what had happened before.
The thunderstorm warning [stopped] any chance of finishing the outdoor concert that night, so the band packed up for good after only two songs.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: postponed / diminished / jeopardized / precluded	precluded — To "preclude" is to make something impossible, fitting a band that "packed up for good"; "diminished" and "jeopardized" suggest some chance remained, but none did.
A dull brick red was the [main] color in the painting, covering the sky, the rooftops and even the faces of the crowd, though the artist said it carried no special meaning.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: contrasting / predominant / eye-catching / symbolic	predominant — "Predominant" means most common or noticeable, matching a color that covers nearly everything; "eye-catching" fails because the red was "dull," and "symbolic" fails because it "carried no special meaning."
The whole argument rested on one [thought] that turned out to be false: that the old library had never been renovated.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: digression / premise / anecdote / conclusion	premise — A "premise" is the idea an argument is built on, matching what the argument "rested on"; "conclusion" is tempting, but a conclusion is where an argument ends, not what it rests on.
As team captain, choosing which side of the field to defend after the coin toss was Dana's [thing], a privilege no other player had and one she was free to hand to a teammate if she wished.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: prerogative / burden / obligation / specialty	prerogative — A "prerogative" is a special right belonging to a particular person, matching "a privilege no other player had"; "obligation" fails because she was "free to hand" the choice to someone else.
With the science fair only two days away, finishing her poster, a quick and easy job, was Imani's most [important] task.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: ambitious / demanding / tedious / pressing	pressing — "Pressing" means urgent, fitting a task due in "two days"; "demanding" and "tedious" fail because the job was "quick and easy."
Grandma said she needed fresh air and stepped outside, but the fresh air was only her [story]; she really wanted to peek at the surprise-party decorations in the yard.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: pretext / rationale / motive / alibi	pretext — A "pretext" is a false reason that hides the real one, matching fresh air as a cover for peeking; "motive" fails because it names the real reason, and "alibi" means proof of being somewhere else.
The young pianist's memory was [big]: although she now and then slipped on a note, she could play more than two hundred pieces from start to finish without sheet music.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: selective / reliable / flawless / prodigious	prodigious — "Prodigious" means remarkably great in amount, matching "more than two hundred pieces"; "flawless" and "reliable" fail because she "slipped on a note" now and then.
In the warm, still pond, algae [grew] so quickly, each tiny cell splitting again and again, that within a week the water had turned bright green.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: matured / evolved / proliferated / swelled	proliferated — To "proliferate" is to multiply rapidly in number, matching cells "splitting again and again"; "swelled" is tempting, but it means each one got bigger, not that there were more of them.
Though small, scraggly and carefully sheltered from every frost, the apple tree was so [good] this year that we gave bags of fruit to every neighbor on the street.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: prolific / sturdy / hardy / ornamental	prolific — "Prolific" means producing a great amount, matching enough fruit for "every neighbor"; "hardy" fails because the tree was "sheltered from every frost," and "sturdy" fails because it was "small, scraggly."
Golden retrievers have a strong [feeling] to carry objects in their mouths, picking up shoes, socks and toys even as untrained puppies, a habit bred into them for fetching birds.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: incentive / propensity / obligation / capacity	propensity — A "propensity" is a natural tendency, matching a habit "bred into them" that shows up even in untrained puppies; "capacity" only means the ability to do something, not an urge to keep doing it.
Having never traveled beyond her small town, the critic held [small] views about food, sharing her neighbors' distrust of any dish they had not all grown up eating.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: pessimistic / eccentric / provincial / cynical	provincial — "Provincial" means narrow in outlook, the kind of view formed by never leaving a small place; "eccentric" fails because she shared her neighbors' views rather than holding odd ones.
Classes will meet in spacious, brand-new trailers steps from the main office; the arrangement is [fine] until the building opens next spring, when the trailers will be hauled away.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: isolated / cramped / outdated / provisional	provisional — "Provisional" means arranged for now and likely to change, matching trailers that "will be hauled away"; "cramped" and "outdated" fail because the trailers are "spacious, brand-new."
After a reporter pointed out two exceptions, the park director [changed] her claim that every playground was safe, explaining that she had meant only the playgrounds inspected this year.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: reiterated / retracted / qualified / exaggerated	qualified — To "qualify" a statement is to limit it, exactly what the director did by saying she "meant only" inspected playgrounds; "retracted" is tempting, but she narrowed her claim rather than taking it back.
Offered spots on both the travel soccer team and the jazz band, whose practices met at the same time, Luis faced a real [problem]: both options were good, no one was pushing him, and he simply could not decide.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: crisis / setback / quandary / grievance	quandary — A "quandary" is a situation where it is hard to decide what to do, matching Luis, who "could not decide"; "setback" and "crisis" fail because both options were good and nothing had gone wrong.
The principal explained her [thinking] for the later start time: research shows that teenagers learn better after more sleep.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: rationale / timetable / precedent / mandate	rationale — A "rationale" is the reasoning behind a decision, and the colon introduces exactly that reasoning; "timetable" fails because nothing about dates or schedules follows.
When the exchange students from Lyon cooked us a French dinner, we [answered] by hosting a Thanksgiving feast for them.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: reciprocated / apologized / compromised / retaliated	reciprocated — To "reciprocate" is to return a kindness, matching a feast given in return for a dinner; "retaliated" is tempting, but it means paying back a wrong, not a gift.
Once the city noticed the broken streetlights, it skipped the usual study and press release and moved quickly to [handle] the problem, replacing every bulb within a week.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: publicize / investigate / rectify / acknowledge	rectify — To "rectify" is to correct something, matching "replacing every bulb"; "investigate" and "publicize" fail because the city "skipped the usual study and press release."
The phrase "free gift" is clear and perfectly accurate, but it is [extra], since every gift is free by definition.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: informal / ambiguous / misleading / redundant	redundant — "Redundant" means unnecessary because it repeats something, and "free" repeats what "gift" already means; "ambiguous" and "misleading" fail because the phrase is "clear and perfectly accurate."
At the end of her speech, the camp director, using exactly the same words, [said] the point she had made at the very start: safety matters more than speed.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: summarized / clarified / reiterated / retracted	reiterated — To "reiterate" is to say something again for emphasis, matching "exactly the same words"; "clarified" and "summarized" fail because both mean putting the point differently.
After losing eight straight games, the team was [moved] to the lower division, where it would still play a full schedule next season.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: disqualified / exiled / suspended / relegated	relegated — To "relegate" is to move to a lower place, matching a drop to "the lower division"; "suspended" and "disqualified" fail because the team would "still play a full schedule."
In her newest painting, the artist [did] the stormy harbor in thick oils of deep blue and gray, capturing every crest of the waves.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: sketched / rendered / restored / exhibited	rendered — To "render" is to depict in art, matching a harbor painted in "thick oils" with every detail; "sketched" fails because a sketch is a quick drawing, not a finished oil painting.
The factory's closing had serious [results] throughout the town, from empty storefronts to emptier classrooms.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: precedents / incentives / symptoms / repercussions	repercussions — "Repercussions" are unwelcome effects of an action, like the empty storefronts left by the closing; "symptoms" is tempting, but symptoms are signs of a problem, not effects caused by an action.
The band firmly [answered] the rumor that it was breaking up, insisting its members had never been closer.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: repudiated / downplayed / investigated / ignored	repudiated — To "repudiate" is to reject something as false, matching a firm denial; "downplayed" is tempting, but it means treating the rumor as minor, while the band insisted it was simply untrue.
Coach Kim approved the field trip, but she voiced one [thing] about it: the bus might leave before the last game ended.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: reservation / suspicion / grievance / regret	reservation — A "reservation" is a doubt about a plan you otherwise accept, matching a coach who "approved" but raised a concern; "grievance" fails because nothing unfair had happened, and "regret" fails because the worry is about the future.
When the rain began on the morning of the picnic he had planned for weeks, Grandpa sighed and calmly folded up the blanket with quiet [feeling], knowing there was nothing anyone could do about the weather.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: resignation / indifference / relief / defiance	resignation — "Resignation" is quiet acceptance of something that cannot be changed, matching "nothing anyone could do"; "indifference" fails because he had planned the picnic for weeks and sighed when it was spoiled.
The usually chatty actor called his next film the best work of his career but was oddly [different] about everything else, firmly refusing to share even its title.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: reticent / apathetic / modest / indecisive	reticent — "Reticent" means unwilling to talk or share, matching an actor "refusing to share even its title"; "modest" and "apathetic" fail because he called the film "the best work of his career."
Though her speech offered no facts or examples, its argument was full of holes and she had witnessed none of the events herself, the speaker's [language] was so stirring that the crowd rose to its feet before she had finished.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: reasoning / evidence / rhetoric / testimony	rhetoric — "Rhetoric" is persuasive language that can stir people without much substance, matching a stirring speech with "no facts"; "testimony" fails because she witnessed none of the events herself.
The school board finally [okayed] the new robotics club, granting it official status and a small budget.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: proposed / publicized / tolerated / sanctioned	sanctioned — To "sanction" is to officially approve, matching "official status and a small budget"; "tolerated" is tempting, but it means putting up with something without truly approving it.
The judges [looked at] each dog's coat, teeth and gait, comparing every detail against the breed standard.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: glimpsed / scrutinized / surveyed / skimmed	scrutinized — To "scrutinize" is to examine very closely, matching "comparing every detail"; "surveyed" is tempting, but it means taking an overall view, and "skimmed" and "glimpsed" are far too quick.
The report's assessment of the flood damage was [plain]: calm, serious and backed by firm figures, worded gently for the families, and avoiding both panic and false hope.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: bleak / sober / tentative / blunt	sober — "Sober" means serious and calm, matching an assessment that avoided "both panic and false hope"; "blunt" fails because it was "worded gently," and "tentative" fails because it was "backed by firm figures."
The library [got] opinions from hundreds of patrons through an online survey before choosing its new hours.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: overheard / solicited / tolerated / anticipated	solicited — To "solicit" is to ask for something, matching opinions requested "through an online survey"; "overheard" is tempting, but nobody overhears a survey they sent out on purpose.
Though every step clearly hurt, the marathon runner stayed [quiet] about her blistered feet, finishing the last six miles without a word of complaint or a hopeful smile.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: optimistic / stoic / oblivious / nonchalant	stoic — "Stoic" means enduring pain without complaining, matching a runner in pain who said nothing; "nonchalant" and "oblivious" fail because "every step clearly hurt," so she was neither unconcerned nor unaware.
Shouted over live radio in a harsh, grating voice and without a trace of irony, the critic's [strong] attack on the film convinced no one and made even its detractors wince.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: thorough / sarcastic / persuasive / strident	strident — "Strident" means loud, harsh and grating, matching an attack "shouted" in a "harsh, grating voice"; "sarcastic" fails because there was not "a trace of irony," and "persuasive" fails because it "convinced no one."
Scoring the grace of a figure-skating routine is partly [personal]: two honest, careful judges can watch the same jump and, guided by their own tastes, score it differently.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: subjective / arbitrary / technical / biased	subjective — "Subjective" means based on personal feelings, matching judges "guided by their own tastes"; "biased" fails because the judges are "honest," and "arbitrary" fails because they are "careful," not random.
In Ms. Reyes's grading rubric, spelling is [second] to clear reasoning; a few typos cost far fewer points than a weak argument, though both still count.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: subordinate / comparable / interchangeable / preferable	subordinate — "Subordinate" means lower in importance, matching typos that "cost far fewer points"; "comparable" fails because the two are not weighted equally, and "interchangeable" fails because typos cost "far fewer points."
The first chapter is slow, but every one of the [other] chapters moves quickly, each ending on a cliffhanger.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: concluding / subsequent / alternate / introductory	subsequent — "Subsequent" means coming after, fitting every chapter after the slow first one; "concluding" fails because it would cover only the last chapters, and "alternate" would mean every other chapter.
With an eager nod and a smile, the principal gave her [quiet] approval to the plan, final and complete, without signing anything or saying a word.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: tacit / reluctant / provisional / formal	tacit — "Tacit" means understood without being said, matching approval given "without signing anything or saying a word"; "formal" fails because nothing was signed, and "reluctant" fails because her nod was "eager."
The investigators needed [real] evidence, such as fingerprints, receipts or a footprint, not just a hunch, even if no single piece could settle the case or point to anyone in particular.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: tangible / incriminating / conclusive / anecdotal	tangible — "Tangible" means physical and able to be touched, like fingerprints or receipts; "conclusive" fails because no piece "could settle the case," and "incriminating" fails because none would "point to anyone."
Her calm, unhurried silence when asked about the broken vase was [interesting]; though she hadn't meant to give anything away, it suggested she knew more than she was saying.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: awkward / polite / deliberate / telling	telling — "Telling" means revealing something without meaning to, matching a silence that gave something away though she "hadn't meant to"; "deliberate" fails for that same reason, and "awkward" fails because the silence was "calm, unhurried."
The lawyer's argument was as well worded and on-topic as ever, but after the key witness changed his story, she realized it was no longer [good], since the facts it rested on had collapsed.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: tenable / relevant / original / eloquent	tenable — "Tenable" means able to be defended as reasonable, which an argument stops being when "the facts it rested on had collapsed"; "eloquent" and "relevant" fail because it was still "well worded and on-topic."
The team's hold on first place, official and undisputed, was [weak], resting on a single point with three games left; one loss could end it, though it might just as easily last all season.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: controversial / unofficial / temporary / tenuous	tenuous — "Tenuous" means thin and easily broken, matching a lead that "one loss could end"; "temporary" is tempting, but the hold "might just as easily last all season," and "controversial" fails because it was "undisputed."
Facing the recital she had eagerly practiced for all year, Lily felt real [worry] about what might go wrong, her hands shaking as she walked onstage.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: impatience / trepidation / regret / reluctance	trepidation — "Trepidation" is fear about something that might happen, matching shaking hands over "what might go wrong"; "reluctance" fails because she had "eagerly practiced," and "regret" is about the past, not the future.
Caring for a puppy that wakes up every two hours is simple and cheap, but night after night it can be [hard] for even the most devoted owner, who ends up worn out and short-tempered.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: complicated / risky / costly / trying	trying — "Trying" means tiring and hard to put up with, matching an owner left "worn out and short-tempered"; "complicated" fails because the care is "simple," and "costly" fails because it is "cheap."
Skittish as they are, pigeons are so [normal] in city parks, perched all day on every bench, ledge and path, that most visitors hardly notice them.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: ubiquitous / approachable / docile / nocturnal	ubiquitous — "Ubiquitous" means found everywhere, matching pigeons "on every bench, ledge and path"; "docile" and "approachable" fail because the pigeons are "skittish," and "nocturnal" fails because they are out "all day."
Never openly disobeying her, the two actors [hurt] the director's authority over the rest of the cast little by little, whispering jokes through every rehearsal.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: undermined / overpowered / usurped / defied	undermined — To "undermine" is to weaken gradually and indirectly, matching "little by little" and "never openly"; "defied" fails because defiance is open disobedience, and "usurped" means seizing power for oneself.
Calm, orderly and exactly as large as organizers had predicted, the street fair's crowd of eighty thousand was [big]: no single day in the fair's forty-year history had come close.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: unprecedented / unruly / unexpected / unmanageable	unprecedented — "Unprecedented" means never seen before, matching a crowd no day in "forty-year history had come close" to; "unexpected" fails because it was "exactly as large as organizers had predicted."
A second laboratory repeated the experiment exactly, got the same results and [backed] the original findings, adding no new data but giving the discovery much more weight.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: revised / validated / extended / publicized	validated — To "validate" is to confirm something is correct, matching a lab that "got the same results"; "revised" and "extended" fail because the lab changed nothing and added "no new data."
With the bridge closed for repairs, the slow, expensive, crowded ferry was the only [okay] option for getting to the island before dark.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: viable / convenient / pleasant / affordable	viable — "Viable" means workable, fitting the one option that could still get people there "before dark"; "affordable" fails because the ferry was "expensive," and "convenient" fails because it was "slow" and "crowded."
When the security video showed a raccoon tipping over the trash cans, it [helped] our dog, whom everyone had blamed.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: excused / pardoned / reassured / vindicated	vindicated — To "vindicate" is to clear someone of blame by proving the truth, as the video did; "pardoned" and "excused" are tempting, but both suggest the dog was guilty and was simply let off.
The stock's price, which began and ended the week at a fair fifty dollars, was so [wild] that it rose 20 percent one morning and fell 30 percent by afternoon.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: volatile / dwindling / inflated / soaring	volatile — "Volatile" means likely to change suddenly in either direction, matching a rise and a fall on the same day; "dwindling" and "soaring" describe movement in one direction only, and "inflated" fails because the price was "fair."
As the novelty of the new video game slowly [went down] over several weeks, most students drifted back to basketball at recess, though a few still played it on rainy days.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: vanished / plummeted / stalled / waned	waned — To "wane" is to decrease gradually, matching "slowly ... over several weeks"; "plummeted" is too sudden, and "vanished" fails because "a few still played it."
The judges found the essay [bad] in evidence; it made bold claims without a single fact to support them.  Most precise replacement for the bracketed words: wanting / careless / excessive / inconsistent	wanting — "Wanting" means lacking, matching claims "without a single fact"; "inconsistent" and "careless" fail because both suggest some evidence was there, and here there was none at all.
