Correct Answer: A (destructive)

Meaning focus: “Disastrous” means causing great damage, serious harm, or catastrophe. In the sentence, it is supported by examples: severe flooding, loss of lives, and damage to property.

A Correct. “Destructive” matches the idea of causing serious damage.

B Incorrect. “Suspicious” means doubtful/secretly distrustful, unrelated to disaster.

C Incorrect. “Sufficient” means enough, unrelated to harm.

D Incorrect. “Harmless” is the opposite of disastrous.

E Incorrect. “Ultimate” means final/most extreme, not a synonym for causing damage.

Correct Answer: E (temporary)

Meaning focus: “Permanent” means lasting forever or not changing back. The opposite is something that lasts only for a short time: “temporary.”

A Incorrect. “Lasting” is similar to permanent, not opposite.

B Incorrect. “Forever” strengthens the meaning of permanent.

C Incorrect. “Restricted” means limited, not about time duration.

D Incorrect. “Unlimited” means without limits, not an antonym of permanent.

E Correct. “Temporary” is the direct antonym in the time-duration sense.

Correct Answer: A (gathered)

Meaning focus: In this context, “dismissed” means “allowed to leave” or “sent away” (released from work temporarily). The opposite is “called together/assembled,” which matches “gathered.”

A Correct. “Gathered” (assembled) is the opposite direction from being sent away.

B Incorrect. “Rejected” relates to refusing/declining, not the opposite of being released.

C Less appropriate. “Admitted” means allowed to enter/accepted; it is not the clearest opposite of “dismissed” in the work-release sense.

D Incorrect. “Executed” is unrelated.

E Incorrect. “Terminated” is closer to fired/ended, not the opposite of dismissed for lunch.

Correct Answer: E (successful)

Meaning focus: “Flourishing” means growing well, thriving, doing very well. The sentence supports this with evidence: he opened two more branches this year, which indicates business success.

A Incorrect. “Luxurious” means expensive/comfortable, not about business growth.

B Incorrect. “Plentiful” means abundant in quantity, not thriving as a business.

C Incorrect. “Beneficial” means helpful, not the main meaning here.

D Partly related, but not best. “Productive” means producing a lot; a business can be productive, but “flourishing” is closer to thriving/successful overall.

E Correct. “Successful” captures the idea of thriving and expanding.

Correct Answer: C (generated)

Meaning & collocation: A tsunami is generated (produced/created) by an underwater disturbance (such as an earthquake, landslide, or volcanic activity). The blank needs a verb meaning “caused/produced.”

A Incorrect. “Composed” means made of parts, not caused by an event.

B Incorrect. “Mobilized” means organized/made ready to move (often troops/resources), not used for waves caused by earthquakes.

C Correct. “Generated by a disturbance” is a natural scientific phrasing.

D Incorrect. “Influenced” is too weak; a disturbance does not just influence a tsunami, it creates it.

E Incorrect. “Appreciated” means valued, unrelated.