Vocabulary and Synonyms

A lackey is a person who flatters or behaves obsequiously to gain favor or advantage, especially with ulterior motives. A philanderer is promiscuous, a masochist enjoys pain, and a parvenu is someone of humble origin who has gained wealth or position but not social acceptance - none fit the definition.

A stoic is someone who practices stoicism - the philosophy of being indifferent to pleasure or pain, and maintaining emotional control regardless of circumstances. An altruist helps others, a skeptic questions everything, and a sadist enjoys inflicting pain - stoic is the correct match.

The latter part of the sentence (refused to accept money for services rendered) provides clue for the blank. 'Abnegation' (a giving up of rights, etc.; self-denial; renunciation) in option (2) fits our prediction, hence, (2) is the answer.

This is an analogy showing relationship between a condition and its associated feeling/symptom. Paranoia is a condition characterized by persecution delusions. Similarly, alienation (note: the option has a typo 'ESTRANGMENT') is a condition associated with estrangement or feeling disconnected. There appears to be a spelling error in the correct option.

A pedant is someone who displays excessive concern with erudition (scholarship/knowledge). A prude is someone who displays excessive concern with modesty. The analogy pairs a characteristic trait with what the person is excessively concerned about.

A complacent person is characterized by self-satisfaction. An autodidact is characterized by being self-taught. The analogy pairs a trait with its defining characteristic.

Suave and urbane are synonyms meaning polished and sophisticated. Similarly, highbrow relates to cultivation (of intellectual tastes). The analogy pairs sophisticated traits with their nature.

Capricious means unpredictable or changeable, which indicates a lack of reliability. Extemporaneous means spontaneous or unplanned, which indicates a lack of predictability. The relationship is: quality → the negative trait it lacks.

A pack of cards is the correct collective noun for a group of playing cards. Other options like parcel, box, or package can contain cards but are not the specific collective term.

A heap of ruins is the correct collective noun. Heap implies a disordered pile or accumulation, which fits ruins better than stack (too organized), pile (too neat), or jumble (too chaotic without implying size).

Quiver is the specific collective noun for arrows, referring to the container that holds them. Holder, case, and sheath are generic terms but not the proper collective noun used for arrows.

Sheaf is the correct collective noun for corn or other grain stalks tied together. Bundle, bunch, and stack are similar terms but sheaf is the specific agricultural term for cut grain stalks.

Stock is the correct collective noun for goods or merchandise kept for sale. Inventory refers to the detailed list, store is the place, and items is too generic.

A tuft is the correct collective term for a small cluster of grass or hair growing closely together. Clump is less specific and can refer to any grouped vegetation, while bunch is more generic.