Fill in the Blanks

Venting spleen means expressing anger. It's illogical to direct anger at inanimate (lifeless) objects since they can't respond or become enemies. Doing so creates fewer enemies than venting at people.

Citizens defending their city would repel an onslaught (a fierce or destructive attack). 'Onslaught' fits the context of military or defensive action against a city better than 'comment', 'robbery', or 'criticism'.

Language, culture, and personality are interrelated in reality. While we can think about them separately, they're inseparable in fact - they influence and shape each other constantly in real human experience.

Notorious means famous for something negative, which fits 'terrorist'. Nabbed is colloquial for caught/arrested. 'Famous' and 'renowned' are too positive, while 'admonished' means warned, not arrested.

Constructive criticism helps improve by suggesting solutions. Criticism that only tears down without offering improvement paths is the opposite - it's not constructive and should be avoided.

Primarily means 'for the most part' or 'mainly,' which correctly describes the Europeans' initial motivation for coming to India - they came principally/first and foremost for riches. 'Basically' and 'fundamentally' are too abstract, while 'seemingly' contradicts the historical fact that they did indeed come for riches.

Blunder means to move clumsily or bump into things accidentally, which fits perfectly with the context of someone in the dark hitting a table. The other options don't make sense: brag (boast), bother (worry/trouble), buy (purchase), and brood (think deeply about something depressing).

Bother means to trouble oneself about something or take the trouble to do it. The sentence means he told her not to worry about or take the trouble with the washing-up because he would handle it himself. Blunder (clumsy mistake), brag (boast), buy (purchase), and brood (think deeply) don't fit this context.

Brag means to boast about or show off one's achievements excessively. This perfectly matches the context of someone talking too much about what they've accomplished. Blunder (mistake), bother (worry), buy (purchase), and brood (think deeply) are unrelated to boasting.

Brood means to think deeply, worry, or dwell on something at length, especially something depressing. When someone is depressed, they tend to brood - think obsessively about their troubles. Blunder (clumsy move), brag (boast), bother (worry), and buy (purchase) don't fit this emotional context.

Buy time is an idiom meaning to delay or stall to gain more time. Union leaders prolonging negotiations to delay action is literally 'buying time' - using stalling tactics. Blunder (mistake), brag (boast), bother (worry), and brood (dwell on thoughts) don't fit this strategic delay context.

Calmed means to soothe or make someone/something quieter and less agitated. A gentle voice would naturally calm a crying baby, reducing their distress. Called (shouted/requested), cadged (begged/borrowed), ceased (stopped), and careered (moved wildly) don't fit this soothing context.

Cadged means to beg, borrow, or obtain something by asking repeatedly (often informally). Someone frequently getting 'lifts' (rides in cars) from friends by asking is cadging them. Called (phoned/shouted), calmed (soothed), ceased (stopped), and careered (rushed) don't match this informal borrowing context.

Ceased means to stop or come to an end. Hostilities (fighting/conflict) stopping at midnight is a formal way to say the fighting ended. Called (summoned), cadged (begged), calmed (soothed), and careered (rushed) don't match this military/formal context about ending hostilities.

Carved means to cut or shape something from a material. Early human tools were literally carved (cut and shaped) from stone and bone. Cast (molded), catered (served food), captivated (fascinated), and challenged (tested) don't fit the context of prehistoric tool-making.