When you are not given a choice about something or are forced to do something, that thing is considered “obligatory.” Because people in some democracies are forced to vote, the correct answer is that in these situations, voting is “obligatory.” “Prohibited” means against the rules; "encouraged" means supported and promoted; “permitted” means allowed; and “inhabited” means lived in.

Because the family had to move out of their house and apply for money from the government (“benefits”), you can determine that the correct answer must mean impoverished or very poor. So, the correct answer is “destitute.” As for the other answer choices, “solvent” means having money after paying what one owes others; it is an antonym of “destitute.” “Astute” means clever and perceptive; “melancholy” means sad and thoughtful; and "frustrated" means annoyed or vexed.

Because the author is put at peace and helped to think by classical music, it is reasonable to conclude that he or she must like it. “Affinity” means inclination towards liking something, so this is the best answer choice. As for the other answer choices, “loathing” means hatred; “detachment” means state or act of being disconnected, distant, and not attached to people or ideas; “novelty” means newness; and "concern," when used as a noun, means worry.

The sentence expresses that Mary's normal sense of fear was even stronger this week. This is hinted at by the expression "even more." You might be tempted to choose "despair," but this word is not a stronger form of fear. Fear might cause someone to despair, but that is not the same as "particularly strong fear." The best option among those provided is "dread," which does indicate a strong sense of fear.

We know that the science teacher mixed the wrong chemicals together AND that this caused the school to be evacuated. We can infer, then, that the fumes were bad for people. The only answer that fits this description is "noxious," meaning harmful or dangerous.

Since Robbie was not following school rules by using his telephone in class, we can infer that the principal would either do something to force Robbie to follow the rules, or punish him in some way. "Confiscate" is a verb that means to surrender something to a legal authority. 

Since Tom and Sam were disgusted at the discovery, we can infer that they did not get what they thought they were paying for. "Counterfeit" means fake or false. "Authentic" and "genuine" are both antonyms to "counterfeit." "Disheveled" refers to a messy appearance. "Ingenious" describes a very clever idea or person.

"Wedding invitations" are paper products, so Ariana is going to a store that sells paper products. "Florists" sell flowers, "jewelry" stores sell jewelry, and an "accessory," in this instance, is something that is an extra item for an outfit. For instance, a scarf might be an accessory. This leaves "stationery" and "stationary." "Stationery," with an "e" refers to paper products, while "stationary," with an "a" refers to something that doesn't move.

The key words in this sentence are "determined" and "despite." These words indicate that Li is facing an obstacle. We can infer that an obstacle to finishing a race would be poor weather conditions. "Adverse" means not ideal, which fits the sentence. "Averse" means against and "inverse" means opposite.

It's likely Maria feels misunderstood by her friends who wish she "fit in" and not be herself. "Entertained" and "amused" are similar in meaning, and do not describe how Maria feels in a situation in which she's pressured to be like others. Finally, far from "praising" her, Maria's friends are putting her under significant pressure.