Fill in the Blanks

“into the fire” is correct. It means going from a bad situation to a worse situation.

“seldom prosper” is correct because goods acquired through immoral ways do not benefit anyone. They seldom bring prosperity or good luck to the person.

“when the iron is hot” is correct because when the latter part is joined with the given proverb, it means that “never lose an opportunity to act”.

“fear the flame” is correct because it abides by the maxim: “Truth fears no test”. It means a truthful person fears no one.

“too much craft” is correct. It means beware of a man who is too extravagantly polite, as he or she might cheat you.

“shallow brooks are noisy” is correct. It means a virtuous man would never boast of his high qualities, while a man with low mentality would make a show of his insignificant potentiality.

“and look for like” is correct because it represents the idea that “as you sow, so shall you reap”. It is the reverse of “do good, have good”.

“thinks all are so” is correct to the extent that it indicates that “a person who is good, thinks that all are good".

'Asserts' in Option (4) is too emphatic to be used in this sentence. Option (3) 'ridicules' is also incorrect as the word is used to imply making fun of someone or something but does not necessarily connote malice. This term is irrelevant. Among (1) and (2) you all should think upon yourself whom do you fed majority opinion is with easily you can make out option (1) as correct.

Advertising is used to promote a product and going by the flow of first part of sentence, first blank should be filled by a word, which denotes negative publicity for the product. Both options (1) & (2) are pay and backfire are valid. Now using these two options check whether second blank is suitably filled or not from option (1). The sentence goes like 'instead of gaining more publicity', it doesn't sound too good to be deemed correct as you can't lose publicity whereas from option (2) the sentence goes like 'instead of gaining more customers', it sounds convincing. Hence, (2) is the answer.

“Not just” provides a clue for the blank, which implies that performance-enhancing drugs are popular among Americans also and they are no more restricted to professional sportspersons. “Fact” is the only option that fits our prediction. “Reverie” means dreamy thinking or imagining, whereas “delusion” means a false belief or opinion. Hence, (4) in the answer

The clue word in this sentence is “Renaissance”, which means a new birth. Therefore, the discovery of classical books must be new during the Renaissance period, hence (2) is the answer

The clause following “when” provides an explanation to the clause that precedes it. “Friction” (disagreement or conflict) is the only option that would be coherent with “strain” in the sentence. Hence, (3) is the answer.
'Abrasion' is a scraping or rubbing off, as of skin, therefore wouldn't convey cogent meaning to the sentence.

The clue word in the sentence is 'even seems', which highlights the probability. Of all these options, 'might' in (3) fits our prediction. Moreover, figures are always immobile. But when made so artistically, they delude the viewer of its mobility. “Movement” in (3) would fit our prediction for second blank. “Action” in (4) does not indicate any sort of probability and therefore is not cogent with 'even seems'. Hence, (3) is the answer

The latter part of the sentence, supports the initial part of the sentence. “Glorious victory” highlights the positive feel of the sentence, therefore both the words should be positive. Option (2) fits our prediction and hence, the answer.