The second part of the clause suggests that Chamberlain attempted a measure of “conciliation” towards the Germans. “Conciliation” means giving someone a small part of what they want, so they do not take all of it. It is most similar in definition to “appease.” To provide further help, “disgrace” means shame; “bombast” is a type of arrogance; “lament” means to express sadness or pain about something; “deplore” means hate or condemn. 

From the context of the sentence, it is clear the answer must mean to pass away. The correct answer choice is therefore “perish,” which means to pass away or disappear. To provide further help, the “summit” is the top; “exclude” means not include, leave out; a “banquet” is a feast of food; “taunt” means mock, goad.

The context of the sentence tells us that the author is grateful to his teacher for edifying (instructing and teaching) and something most likely similarly “beneficial” (helpful). The correct answer is therefore “enlightening,” which means showing the light, teaching something important. To provide further help, “mocking” means making fun of; “imitating” means copying; “ousting” means getting rid of; “moping” means sulking, expressing continuous sadness. 

In this sentence the police are alerted to the location of the criminal this suggests he was swiftly caught or captured so the correct answer is “apprehended.” The suffix -prehend is often used in the English language to mean seize, as in “apprehended,” or grasp, as in “comprehend.” To provide further help, “tenuous” means unstable; “mythical” means based on legend; “undermine” means to weaken. 

Since the young man is said to tell his story in order to deceive, it is safe to assume that he had to "make up" or create the story (instead of merely telling the true facts). The word "fabricate" means "create" and often implies that the creation is being done for the sake of deceiving someone else. In general, "fabrication" means making or manufacturing. However, it almost always has this nuance of deception. None of the other words imply the deception that is clearly indicated in the sentence.

The key thing to note in this sentence is that Reginald wants—above all—peace for himself and his siblings. He would "try to do anything" to achieve this peace. Therefore, it is best to infer that his actions are aimed at calming his raging mother. When we "placate" someone, we aim to make them less angry or more pleased (whichever way you wish to look at it). This option is the best, since it is related to the "peace" that the Reginald desires. It is not primarily a matter of "personal conquest" of or battle with the raging mother, which the other answers all imply.

A bullet is sent forth or sent out of a chamber using the power of gunpowder. This is most similar in definition to “propelled.” If you see either of the roots "pell" or "pul" in a word, that word probably has somethign to do with movement, as in the words "repelled," "propulsion," and "expulsion." None of the other answer choices make sense in the blank: “molted” means shed and often refers to animals shedding things like fur, feathers, or skin; “encumbered” means burdened; and “dispersed” means spread out.

Because the author had one opinion and everyone else had the opposite opinion, it stands to reasons that the author might want to reevaluate or “reappraise” his opinion. So, "reappraise" is the correct answer. To provide further help, “supplant” means replace, “barrage” means relentlessly attack, “gawky” means clumsy or awkward, and a “garrison” is a group of troops left behind to defend something or, when used as a verb, supply a location or with such troops. In English, the prefix "re-" means do something again.

The speaker's uncle has found out that he has high blood sugar and wants to get his health under control, so we can infer that he won't be eating many, if any, deserts for the time being. So, we need to pick out a word that means something like deny oneself something. To “abstain” from something means to not take part in it, or to deny yourself that thing, so "abstain" is the correct answer.

The mechanic bolted the cover onto the battery only after he was certain that it had been "made secure." That is, it had been "fixed in place." In addition to "repair," the word "fix" can mean fasten or attach. The word "affix"—as in, "Affix the label here"—means stick to. We cannot say how the batter was made secure; however, whether by ratcheting, bolting, screwing, or any other means, it was certainly secured, that is, "fixed."