1. The mountaineering expedition reached the summit at dawn, where they encountered a sublime vista of snow-capped peaks stretching endlessly toward the horizon, filling them with awe and spiritual transcendence. Which word most directly opposes “sublime” in this context?

2. During the congressional hearing, the whistleblower’s testimony did more than simply reveal corporate malfeasance; it threatened to implicate several high-ranking government officials who had allegedly facilitated the company’s regulatory violations through selective enforcement policies. In this context, “implicate” most precisely means:

3. The celebrity grew increasingly uncomfortable as tourists gathered around the outdoor café, _______ at her with their phones raised, seemingly oblivious to how their behavior disrupted both her privacy and the dining experience of other patrons.

4. The architect’s final design proposal disappointed the review committee because it appeared to be a chaotic _______ of various architectural styles rather than a coherent vision that harmoniously integrated different elements.

5. Literary critics argue that when classic texts are studied in isolation without reference to their historical periods, social conditions, or cultural milieux, students encounter these works in a decontextualized manner that impoverishes comprehension. What does “decontextualized” most precisely mean?