In case you stumbled on the word “excursions,” it refers to short, pleasurable trips or outings. “Constitutional” can refer to governing principles, but it can also mean that something is beneficial to one’s health (one's "constitution"). “Elated” means that the subject was in high spirits. “Ambulatory” refers to involving walking or being able to walk. “Elated . . . ambulatory” is the best choice.

There is a sentence shift after the word “until.” “Amenable” describes someone who is complying. “Recalcitrant” describes a person who is stubborn—someone who has made up their mind, and then absolutely refuses to budge an inch. “Amenable . . . recalcitrant” is the best choice.

Someone who is “amiable” is good-natured and friendly. Though a person with this characteristic would usually be a good date, it isn’t the case in this particular instance. There obviously seems to be something wrong with this person in the subject's opinion. The person couldn’t be both good-natured and friendly while being extremely rude, as that would seem too much of a contradiction. “Mundane” is ordinary, boring, and routine. “Amiable . . . mundane” is the correct response.

The clues in this sentence are "both industrious," "vast collection," and "did not put forth the effort." "Vast collection" tells us that she produced a lot of work ("prolific"). The second blank will be a synonym of industrious or dedicated ("sedulous"). 

 Don't get fooled by "creative" or "colorful" in one of the answer choices - those are a classic trap (because the passage is about an artist).   

The words "at first" give us a clue that the sentence will have an important shift, that there are two different ideas. Only "puerile" (childish) and "jocular" (humorous) fit.

The first part of the sentence poses the opposite of the second part: "______ and abstruse" is the opposite of "shorter and more________." "Prolix" is the opposite of "shorter" and "pellucid" is the opposite of "abstruse."

At first glance, the two blanks seem to be opposites, but pay attention to the words "far less" before the second blank. We're actually looking for two synonyms, something that would "feel insurmountable" - "overwhelming" or onerous (burdensome). 

We are looking for two opposite words. Only "pernicious" (meaning extremely harmful) and "innocuous" (meaning harmless) work.

“Ambiguous” means uncertain or open to interpretation. It would be hard to argue that the effects were “ambiguous” when “every yard in the neighborhood had parched grass.” “Ample” means having more of something than is needed, often much more. When something is “conspicuous,” you notice it right away. “Conspicuous . . . ample” is the correct answer.

An “amulet” is an object that is believed to protect against harm or bring good luck. “Serendipitous” conveys a two-part meaning: lucky and unexpected. “Uncanny” refers to something being so strange and abnormal that it seems supernatural, which fits well in the sentence. “Uncanny . . . serendipitous” is the best answer.