The "shopkeeper" has his money affected by a "protection racket," or a scheme where a strongman takes money under threats of violence. The correct answer should indicate the shopkeeper is losing money through force or being pressured out of his money, which is the definition of "milked."

The sentence notes that the subject "had so many scandals," whose effect on "his image" is described by the missing word. The correct answer needs to indicate harm or hurt. "Tarnished," meaning made dull (as in brass), and here used metaphorically, is the best choice among the answers.

The "conspirators" now will have difficulty because of "the discovery of the secret plans." The correct answer should indicate complication and trouble. "Compromised," meaning damaged or placed in doubt, is the best choice among the answers.

The sentence describes that "writers were envious" of the subject's "gift for prose." This means the correct answer needs to mean given or provided, the definition of "endowed."

The final phrase of the sentence notes the young girl "ended up not asking" for a raise in her allowance. This means the missing word has to indicate she decided not or was unable to ask. "Faltered," meaning hesitated or wavered, is the best chocie among the answers.

The sentence has one great clue to the best answer choice, that the "new girlfriend" tends to do the missing word about "a litany of stupid things." The correct answer needs to indicate she is also annoying to the couple. "Prattle," meaning to babble and talk in a mindless manner, is the best choice among the answers.

The teacher causes "the students to become disengaged," so the teacher's tendency needs to make the students not care. The correct answer needs to indicate both something boring and without student input. "Orate," meaning to talk in a pompous and overblown manner, is the best choice among the answers.

The sentence notes the teenager "ate all his food quickly," which meant he did not do the missing word. This means the correct answer should indicate slowing down to eat. "Savor," meaning to enjoy or relish, is the best choice among the answers.

The negotiator does the missing word to the issue because the two sides have a "lack of agreement" on it. The correct answer needs to show the negotiator has done something to deal with the issue. "Table," meaning to put away for a future discussion, is the best choice among the answers.

The sentence both calls the company "struggling" and that the investor helped their "breakthrough project." This means the correct answer needs to demonstrate some sort of assistance or insurance. "Underwrite," meaning to help fund or endorse, is the best choice among the answer.