If someone vacillates between two choices, it means they waver or are indecisive.

We often use “malign” in the sense of harmful or evil. Likewise, we somewhat regularly use the related word “malignant” to describe harmful forms of diseases like cancer. However, none of the words here fit into the category of “harmful” or “evil.” Instead, the best option is “slander,” which means to speak falsely of someone out of malice (in order to harm his or her reputation). When “malign” is used as a verb, it can mean this, more generally meaning to speak very critically and demandingly of someone else. For example, “George was horrified at how vehemently Robin maligned her sister, not merely criticizing small faults but even condemning every choice she ever made.”

"Recant" means to disavow or take back something said. "Serenade" means to sing a song or ballad. "Foster" means to promote or support. "Laud" means to give acclaim or praise. "Obscure" means to darken or make something less clear.

"Consecrate" is a verb that means "make or declare (something, typically a church) sacred; dedicate formally to a religious or divine purpose," so we will need to pick out a verb that means something like "make or declare something to be sacred." "Curse," then, cannot be the correct answer, because "curse," when used as a verb, means "invoke or use a curse against," making "curse" more of an antonym than a synonym of "consecrate." "Bless," however, is a verb that can mean "the pronouncement of words in a religious rite, conferring or invoking divine favor upon" or "to consecrate by ritual," and because "bless" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "consecrate," "bless" is the correct answer.

"Adumbrate" and "augur" both mean to foreshadow or bode. "Illuminate" means to brighten or highlight. "Conscript" means to recruit or draft. "Dote" means to cherish or fawn. "Patronize" means to support a cause or condescend to. 

A good example of discerning something is when you discern the difference between your perceived financial situation (which may be higher in your mind) and the reality of your situation.

When someone is “defiant,” he or she stubbornly refuses to obey someone or something else to the point of open resistance. Here, do not confuse “defy” with “deify,” which means “to make into a god.” While options like “argue” and “dispute” are related to someone who is defying another person. The best option is “disobey,” which most closely captures the action of a defiant individual.

The word “extol” means “to praise someone to a great degree.” For this reason, it is best to choose “adulate,” which implies such high praise. The words “praise” and “congratulate” would be options if this stronger option (adulate) was not given.

Since "imitate" means to take or follow as a model, the answer choice that is its closest synonym is "mimic," which means to imitate, typically to entertain or ridicule.

Since "belie" is a verb that means "give a false idea of something," "show something to be false or wrong," we need to pick out a word that means something like "misrepresent." Since "contradict" means "deny the truth of a statement, especially by asserting the opposite," it is the best answer choice and the correct answer.