Many sociologists believe that the high divorce rate in the U.S. is ____ of basic strains and flaws in our social structure.

In Inferno, Dante introduces personages from history and mythology to portray the full ____ of human folly and wickedness.

Those remarkably accurate predictions were based not on ____ but on insight into human nature and the objective elements in the situation.

I knew that if I ran for public office, I would be exposed to severe criticism, but I never expected such a flood of ____.

Henry had an excellent chance to make an honorable career for himself, but he seemed to have a fatal ___ for easy money and shady deals.

The emperor hosted the gladiator games to appease the ___.

Only a supreme actor could express so eloquently the ___ quality of the "thoughts that do often lie too deep for tears."

We found it more difficult to master the ___ than it would have been to simply memorize the material to which it was keyed.

The advice which they offered us with such pretentious solemnity turned out tone nothing more than platitudes and pointless ___.

Anthropologists recognize the ___ elements in the cultures of societies which seem to be vastly different from one another on the surface, but are perhaps more similar than initially thought.

You have had many difficulties in life, but you are helping neither yourself nor others by behaving in such a ___ and offensive manner.

While there is always a place for seriousness, we should also take the time to appreciate the ___ things in life.

The devastating stock market crash of 1929 surprised not only laymen, but Wall Street ___ as well.

The first thing we must do is establish the ___ of the problem, so that we can begin to think in terms of a practical solution.

Allegedly, the explorer Ponce de Leon spent years searching for the ___ of eternal life.

Breathtaking feats of ___ are all in a day's work for a Hollywood stunt person.

We expect to see politicians modify their points of view from time to time, but a sudden, unexpected ___ by a candidate is more than we can tolerate.

I have listened to them state that the present situation is hopeless, but I am unwilling to accept the ___ that the only choice left for us is to give up and surrender.

It is little short of incredible that all their hours of ___ have brought forth that tiny mouse of an idea.