Vocabulary and Synonyms

Tendentious means having a strong aim or purpose, especially showing a bias toward a particular viewpoint. 'Having an aim' captures this essence. The other options are unrelated to the word's meaning.

To transcribe something is to copy it down. 

Thrall means a slave, bondservant, or someone under complete control or domination. The word historically referred to people in bondage. The other options are unrelated.

Vibrant primarily means full of energy, enthusiasm, or life force. Responsive is a valid synonym as something that is vibrant reacts energetically to stimuli. The other options are unrelated: jostle (to shove roughly), flinders (small fragments), nomad (wanderer).

Jostle means to push, elbow, or shove against someone roughly, typically in a crowd. The primary meaning is physical pushing or bumping. The other options are incorrect: steel in (reinforce), for the nation (irrelevant), mermaid (mythical creature).

Caper means a playful skipping movement or a prank/trick. In the context of an action, a prank is the best synonym among the options. The other choices are unrelated: fowl (bird), beak (bird mouth part), creek (small stream).

Scurry means to move hurriedly with short, quick steps. Hurry is the closest synonym among the options. The other words are unrelated: mass (bulk/quantity), mesh (network/net), feel (touch or emotion).

Belabor means to attack or criticize repeatedly and at length, or to explain something excessively. The phrase 'beat soundly' captures the sense of repeated, thorough action. Other options are unrelated: freak (abnormality), crank (handle/odd person), splash (liquid scattering).

Verve means spirit, enthusiasm, or liveliness. Option A (Liveliness) directly matches this meaning. The other options - Flea (an insect), Mere (only or pure), and Chores (routine tasks) - are unrelated to the concept of energy or enthusiasm.

Turbid means muddy, cloudy, or unclear - often used for liquids. Option B (Muddy) is the correct synonym. The other options - Shoot (to fire or emit), Smart (intelligent or stylish), and Gave (past tense of give) - are unrelated to clarity or cloudiness.

Prior means coming before something else in time, order, or importance. Option A (Previous) directly captures this meaning. Options B (Spy), C (Romance), and D (Reed) are completely unrelated to the concept of precedence.

Pullulate means to breed rapidly, swarm, or teem. Option B (To swarm) is the correct synonym. Options A (To swing), C (To ride), and D (To peek) are unrelated to the concept of rapid proliferation or crowding.

Modicum refers to a small quantity or portion. Option A (Small amount) is the precise synonym. Options B (Smear), C (Pastel - an art medium), and D (Fish) are unrelated to the concept of a modest quantity.

Saturate means to soak thoroughly or fill completely. Option B (Soak) is the correct synonym. Options A (Seem), C (Save), and D (Reek) are unrelated to the concept of thorough absorption or filling.

 Gambol means to frolic and have fun.