As one ages (and becomes tired), they can be said to be in a state of “dotage,” meaning that they are old and weak. To step down from rule is to “abdicate” from it.

We are told that the director's reaction is due to his thick skin, which tells us that there is some substantial criticism (so we can rule out "dearth," or lack) and that he is not overly-affected by it (so we can cross out "unaffected," because if he is "hardly unaffected," the double negative (as in math) would mean that he was, in fact, quite affected by the criticism. The "impacted . . . waive" option would work if the second word were the noun "wave" instead of the verb "waive," which means to give something up willingly. We are left with "fazed" (affected) and "barrage" (an onslaught or flood).

The key to this sentence is the fact that the original painting is done by a professional artist; the painting is presumably well done. Thus, if you wanted to mimic or emulate the painting, you would need to look at it closely or scrutinize it.

For the first blank, we need to pick out a word that means something like "steal," because we know that the sentence concerns a "thief" and thieves are likely to steal treasures. Either "finagled" ("obtained something by devious or dishonest means") or "purloined" ("stole something") could be potentially correct. For the second blank, we know that the thief does not approve of his nephew's decision to become a thief, because "he just didn't want to see his nephew get into any trouble with the law." So, we need to pick out a verb that means something like "support," because we know that the thief could not support his nephew's decision. Either "condone" ("accept and allow behavior that is considered morally wrong or offensive to continue") or "approve of" could be potentially correct. Of the possible words that we've identified as potentially correct for each blank, only "finagled" and "condone" appear in the same answer choice, so the correct answer is "finagled . . . condone."

The verbs in this sentence need to make sense in each other's context—so, although "to stack" and "to create" have the proper meaning, they are not grammatically sound options. Out of the rest of the possible answers, "heaps . . . generating" makes the most sense, since it means to put the cupcakes in a pile and then create a mess.

"Nullify" means to negate or make invalid. "Eschew" means to avoid or dodge a responsibility or duty. "Usurp" means to take over or seize. "Procrastinate" means to put off doing something. "Wane" means to decline or dwindle. "Incite" means to provoke or agitate. "Harbinger" means to herald or give a prior indication. "Oscillate" means to move in a side-to-side motion. "Glean" means to gather or collect in a gradual manner. "Pander" means to provide what someone wants even though it may not be preferable.

Since we can infer that Gregor's muscles became weaker during his stay in the hospital, we need to pick out a verb for the first blank that means something like "became weaker." Either "atrophied" (significantly weakened due to lack of use) or "deteriorated" (worsened) could be correct. For the second blank, we know that Gregor was probably losing energy quickly as he walked if he had weak muscles, so we need to pick out a verb that means losing. Either "depleting" (using up the available amount of) or "exhausting" (extremely tiring) could work. Of the four words we've identified as possibly correct answers, only two line up in a single answer choice: "atrophied" and "depleting." So, "atrophied . . . depleting" is the correct answer.

Since we know that "the heist would have not succeeded" without the driver's help, we know that for the first blank, we're looking for a verb that means helped. Two answer choices look like they could work: "abetted" (helped someone commit a crime) and "assisted" (helped). Now, we have to choose between "recipient" and "relinquisher" for the second blank. We can infer that the driver was given some of the loot, so we're looking for a noun that means someone who gets a portion of something. Since "recipient" means someone who receives something and "relinquisher" means someone who gives something else up, the correct answer is "recipient," so the answer is "abetted . . . recipient."

For the first blank, we know that smelling brownies might encourage one to break a rule that states "no dessert before dinner," so Sam must have found it difficult to listen to that rule. So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "listen." Either "adhere" ("stick fast to a surface or substance," "believe in and follow the practices of," or "represent truthfully and in detail") or "obey" ("behave in accordance with") could be correct. For the second blank, we need to pick a verb that can describe the movement of a scent in the air; either "wafted" ("passed or caused to pass easily or gently through or as if through the air") or "drifted" ("be carried slowly by a current of air or water") could be correct. Of the possible words that we've identified as potentially correct for each blank, only "adhere" and "wafted" appear in the same answer choice, so the correct answer is "adhere . . . wafted."

For the first blank, we need to pick out a word that means something like "giving way to," because we know that "Mary decided to . . . eat a few [cookies] despite the fact that she was on a diet." Either "succumbing to" ("failing to resist (pressure, temptation, or some other negative force)") or "yielding to" ("giving way to arguments, demands, or pressure") could be potentially correct. For the second blank, we need to pick out a word that means something like "enjoy oneself," and either "splurge" ("to indulge oneself extravagantly") or "indulge" ("allow oneself to enjoy the pleasure of") could be potentially correct. Of the possible words that we've identified as potentially correct for each blank, only "succumbing to" and "splurge" appear in the same answer choice, so the correct answer is "succumbing to . . . splurge."