Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: 'Regretful.' Contrite means feeling regret or remorse. Choice A, 'Guilty,' does not fully capture the meaning of contrite as it implies a judgement of culpability rather than a feeling of remorse. Choice C, 'Shameful,' is incorrect as it focuses on the emotion of shame rather than regret. Choice D, 'Pleased,' is the opposite of what contrite means, as it signifies satisfaction or happiness, which is contradictory to feeling regretful or remorseful.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: 'The environmental condition or setting.' Milieu refers to the surroundings or environment in which a person lives or operates. Choice A ('A person's background') is incorrect as it refers more to someone's personal history rather than the external environment. Choice C ('A person's history') is also incorrect as it specifically relates to an individual's past events and experiences. Choice D ('The chemical composition') is unrelated to the meaning of milieu, which pertains to the physical or social setting.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B, 'Destructive.' Pernicious is an adjective that describes something that is extremely harmful or destructive. Choice A, 'Harmless,' is the opposite of pernicious. Choice C, 'Helpful,' is a positive term and does not align with the meaning of pernicious. Choice D, 'Harmful,' is a similar term to pernicious but lacks the emphasis on the severe and damaging nature of the word.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Consistency refers to the quality of staying the same in behavior or level. Thickness is a synonym for consistency as it implies a state of being dense, compact, or solid throughout, which aligns with the idea of staying the same. Conversely, appearance, volatility, and color do not directly relate to the concept of consistency. 'Appearance' refers to how something looks, 'volatility' refers to how easily something changes, and 'color' refers to the hue or shade of something, none of which capture the essence of consistency.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is 'B - was.' In the original question, 'were' is incorrectly used as the verb, which should be singular to match the singular subject 'procedure.' The subject 'procedure' requires the singular form 'was' instead of the plural form 'were.' Choices A, C, and D are all used correctly in the sentence.