Captivate means to charm.

Laud means to praise.

"Endorse" is a verb that means "to publicly or officially say that you support or approve of someone or something," so we need to pick out another word that means something like "support." While "oppose" and "espouse" may look and sound somewhat alike, "oppose" means "to disagree with or disapprove of something or someone," so it is an antonym of "endorse" and not the correct answer. "Espouse," on the other hand, is a verb that can mean either "to marry" or "to express support for a cause or belief." Because "espouse" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "endorse," it is the correct answer.

"Allude" is a verb that means "to make an indirect reference to," so we need to pick an answer that means "reference indirectly." "Cite from" and "Refer to directly" may both seem like correct answers, but they involve direct references, whereas "allude" specifically involves indirect references. The only answer choice that specifically involves indirect references is "refer to indirectly," so "refer to indirectly" is the correct answer.

Since "dispute" means "disagreement, argument, or verbal controversy," we need to pick out another answer choice that also means "disagreement." While "competition" and "debate" might both look like potentially correct answers, "competition" means "the act or process of trying to win something that someone else is trying to win," whereas "debate" means "a discussion between people in which they express different opinions about something." Since both "dispute" and "debate" mean "disagreement," "debate" is the correct answer.

"Imply" is a verb meaning "strongly suggest the truth or existence of something not expressly stated," or "suggest something as a logical consequence" when used to refer to facts or occurences. So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "strongly suggest something unstated." While "suggested" may look like the correct answer, "suggested" is not an infinitive verb, but an adjective or a verb conjugated for the past tense, so "suggested" cannot be the correct answer. "Intimate," however, can be used as a verb meaning "imply or hint," or "state or make known." Because "intimate" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "imply," "intimate" is the correct answer.

"Reiterate" means to repeat, as in something said.

"Decry" is a verb that means "publicly denounce," so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "denounce." So, "compliment" cannot be the correct answer because "compliment" is an antonym of "decry," not a synonym. "Disparage," however, is a verb that means "regard or represent as being of little worth," and because "disparage" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "decry," "disparage" is the correct answer.

"Purport" is a word that can be used as either a noun or a verb, but because all of the potential answer choices are verbs, we will need to consider "purport" as a verb. When used as a verb, "purport" means "appear or claim to be or do something, especially falsely; profess." So, we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like "appear to be something, especially falsely." "Expose," then, cannot be the correct answer, because while one might expose the true qualities of someone falsely purporting to have other qualities, "expose" does not mean the same thing as "purport." "Impersonate," however, is a verb that means "pretend to be (another person) as entertainment or in order to deceive someone," and because "impersonate" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "purport," "impersonate" is the correct answer.

“Specify” is a verb that means “identify clearly and definitely,” so we need to pick out an answer choice that means something like “identify clearly.” That means that “generalize” cannot be the correct answer, because “make general or broad statement by inferring from specific cases,” a meaning very distant from that of “specify.” “Designate,” however, is a verb that can mean “ signify; indicate,” and because “designate” is the answer choice closest in meaning to “specify,” “designate” is the correct answer.