“Applaud” means clap in approval of or praise something or someone. “Criticize” means point out someone or something's flaws; “condemn” means criticize harshly; “accommodate” means allow or provide a home for; and “resolve” means decide or finish.

To “announce” means to declare publicly, often letting information be known for the first time. “Whisper” means to speak softly and quietly; “conceal” means hide; “deceive” means trick or lie to; and “mar” means ruin or spoil.

“Ratify” means "approve," more specifically approve an official document. Historians can discuss the ratification of the United States Constitution, for example. As for the other answers, “remonstrate” means argue with; “demonstrate” means show how something is done by doing it oneself; and "forge" can mean either make something out of metal using high temperatures or make something that looks like it is authentic but is not, such as a document or someone else's signature. 

“Meddle” means get in the way of or "interfere." As for the other answer choices, “obscure” means hide; “avert” means stop from happening or turn away; “reprimand” means scold or admonish; and “implore” means beg or urge.

“Vex” means "annoy." As for the other answer choices, “protect” means look after; “support” means help; “accede” means agree; “secede” means leave a group.

“Bellow” means yell forcefully or "shout." As for the other answer choices, “whisper” means speak quietly; “atone” means make up for something bad you have done; and “demean” means put down and make to feel of less worth.

“Delude” means trick, deceive, or lie to, so "deceive" is the best answer choice. As for the other answer choices, “depict” means show or represent someone or something in a work of visual art or a written work; “acknowledge” means give your attention to or admit is present; "uncover" means reveal or discover; and “preview” means show something before it is officially released.

To “covet” something means to really want it, or to "desire" it. As for the other answer choices, “detest” means hate; “intimidate” means scare or frighten someone into doing something they do not want to; “postulate” means posit or put forward as a beginning point for an argument without any proof that what you say is indeed the case; “terrorize” means purposely scare people repeatedly.

“Ruminate” means to think over with care and consideration or to "contemplate." As for the other answer choices, “propose” means suggest; “overwhelm” means overpower and take over by excessive strength or emotionally devastate; "rumble" means produce loud, low sounds; "simulate" means create an imitation of.

“Ponder” means think about, consider, or spend time thinking about, so "think" is the best answer choice. As for the other answer choices, "leap” means jump high and far; “sprint” means run very quickly; “outlaw,” when used as a verb, means ban or prohibit; and "condense" means make something smaller without losing any of its information or density.