If you are “contrite,” it means you are honest about your feelings of regret and guilt over something you have done wrong. This is very similar in meaning to “remorseful.” “Disingenuous” means not candid or insincere and dishonest; “supreme” means best of all; “corporeal” means relating to the body; and “cerebral” means relating to the mind or, when used to describe a person, intelligent.

“Ecstasy” is a feeling of deep joy and happiness, so "joy" is the best answer. As for the other answer choices, “sorrow" is an antonym of “ecstasy” and means deep sadness; and "demeanor" means manner or appearance.

"Affable" is an adjective that describes people and means "friendly, good natured, or easy to talk to." While "tenacious" also describes people, it means "stubborn; clinging or adhering closely" and isn't a synonym of "affable." "Gregarious," however, also is used to describe people and means "fond of company; sociable," so it is the best answer choice.

"Contrite" means sorry for wrongs. The only word that matches that is "repentant."

"Abject" means downtrodden and hopeless, so "downtrodden" is the correct answer. As for the other answer choices, none are close in meaning to "abject": "ambiguous" means having more than one meaning; "audacious" means brazen or bold; "diffident" means hesitant or lacking in confidence; and "laudable" means admirable or praiseworthy.

"Incensed" is an adjective that means "very angry; enraged," so we will need to pick out an adjective that means something like "very angry." "Serene" cannot be the correct answer, then, because "serene" is an adjective that means "calm, peaceful, and untroubled; tranquil," making "serene" an antonym, not a synonym, of "incensed." "Furious," however, is an adjective that means "extremely angry" or "full of anger or energy; violent or intense," and because "furious" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "incensed," "furious" is the correct answer.

"Despondent" is an adjective that means "in low spirits from loss of hope or courage." So, while "ponderous" may sound somewhat similar to "despondent" because of the words' shared "-pon-" syllable, "ponderous" means "slow and clumsy because of great weight," or "dull, laborious, or excessively solemn," so it does not mean the same thing as "despondent" and cannot be the correct answer. "Disconsolate," however, is an adjective that means "without consolation or comfort; unhappy," and because it is the answer choice closest in meaning to "despondent," it is the correct answer.

Our initial word—"thoughtful"—is quite simple. However, we must track down the synonym from among a list of more difficult ones. While philosophers are generally thoughtful people, this is not really a synonym for being thoughtful. The other words do not fit at all. (Of them, “teleological” is perhaps the most unknown, meaning roughly, “having an end or a purpose.”) The word “pensive” describes someone who thinks deeply. It comes from the Latin for “to ponder,” though this is actually from the word "pendere," meaning to weigh. (Think of the expression, “weigh your words carefully.”) The French "penser" for to think is likewise a good parallel example, and it can be found in the famous expression of Descartes: "Je pense donc je sui," I think therefore I am. Likewise, there is the influential logic text from the 17^th century, L’art de penser, “The art of thinking.”

Someone who is affable is pleasant and friendly.  For instance, an affable friend is warm and kindhearted.

Someone who is despondent is depressed or discouraged.  The person is not necessarily poor, so the other answer choices referencing poverty are not correct.