Martha has been trying to ______ her roommate since their quarrel last week, as she doesn’t want to continue the argument.

• overgrow

• bother

• avoid

• pursue

As David finished the last drop of the delicious chicken soup, he licked his lips and gave out sounds of ______.

• contentment

• dominance

• explosion

• affection

After several rounds of intense fighting, the boxer punched his ______ right in the face, knocked him out, and won the match.

• performer

• attendant

• opponent

• messenger

Watch out! The bench has just been painted. You can fan the wet paint if you want to ______ its drying.

• fasten

• hasten

•  lengthen

• strengthen

Warm milk ______ sleepiness. So if you have trouble falling asleep, try drinking some warm milk before going to bed.

• conceals

•  recruits

• absorbs

• induces

Having worked five years as a data processor in a small town, Alice is tired of the routine of her job and the ______ of her life.

• disturbance

•  salvation

• remainder

• monotony

Peter has never been on time to meetings or appointments. It would be interesting to look into reasons why he is ______ late.

• chronically

• hysterically

• simultaneously

• resistantly

The film Life of Pi won Ang Lee an Oscar in 2013 for Best Director—one of the most ______ awards in the movie industry.

• populated

• surpassed

• coveted

• rotated

According to environmental scientists, the earth is likely to experience significant ______ changes within the next century.

• redundant

• ecological

• authentic

• provincial

Traditional Chinese medical practices include ______ remedies, which use plants, plant parts, or a mixture of these to prevent or cure diseases.

• herbal

• frantic

• magnetic  

• descriptive