The word "placate" means calm down. The best choice is "calm" (used as a verb) because it is a part of the definition of "placate."

"Pacify" is a verb meaning "quell the anger, agitation, or excitement of," so we need to pick out a verb that means something like "calm down." While "calmness" may look like a potentially correct answer, "calmness" is a noun and "pacify" a verb, so "calmness" cannot be the correct answer. "Soothe," however, is a verb meaning "gently calm a person or their feelings," "reduce pain or discomfort in a part of the body," or "relieve or ease pain." Because "soothe" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "pacify," "soothe" is the correct answer.

"Antagonize" is a verb that means oppose with hostility, so the answer choice closest in meaning to antagonize is "aggravate," a verb meaning make something bad worse or cause to feel annoyed or angry, often intentionally. Considering the other answer choices, none are close in meaning to "antagonize": "praise" is a verb meaning express approval; "compliment" means praise a certain feature, trait, or accomplishment of someone; and "triumph," when used as a verb, means succeed.

The word "petrify" means paralyze with fear. "Paralyze" is the best choice because it is a part of the meaning of "petrify."

"Detest" means to hate or to despise. "Abhor" means the same thing, so it is the correct answer. "Esteem" means to respect someone or something, "consent" means to agree to something, and "savor" means to enjoy something.

"Perturb" means worry. if you are feeling "perturbed," you are feeling worried and uncertain. To further help you, "desire" means want; "admire" means appreciate.

"Fret" is a verb meaning to worry excessively. For example: "The vicious guard dog caused all intruders to FRET regarding their safety."

"Soothe" is a verb that describes the action of calming someone down, often an action done to someone who is "fretting." "Halt" is a verb meaning to stop an action or movement. As a verb "silence" means to make, usually someone else, be quiet.

To "abhor" something is to loathe, despise or hate it. You might "abhor" violence and refuse to watch TV shows that use violent imagery.

"Covet is an antonym to "abhor." "Instigate" is a verb meaning to cause an event or arouse an emotion that causes action. To "desire" something is to want that thing. To "enhance" something is to make that thing better.

To "agitate" something means to disturb or to unsettle. To feel "agitated" means to feel unsettled, to feel anxious. To provide further help, "condemn" means express disapproval of, denounce; "retract" means take back, as in to take back a statement; "permit" means allow. 

"Subject to" means "cause or force to undergo (a particular experience of form of treatment)." So, we need to pick out a verb that means something like "cause or force to undergo something." While someone might teach a certain subject, "teach" does not mean the same thing as "subject to," and considering how someone might "teach a subject" uses "subject" as a noun, not a verb. "Put through," however, is close in meaning to "cause or force to undergo," and because "put through" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "subject to," "put through" is the correct answer.