Meaning: 'Hugely' means 'to a great extent' or 'very much,' indicating that reality TV programs have gained a lot of popularity.

Wrong options:

• largely: Largely means 'to a great extent' but is often used in contexts of quantity or degree rather than popularity, making it less fitting here.
• greatly: Greatly implies a significant amount but is less commonly used to describe popularity compared to 'hugely.'
• grossly: Grossly suggests something negative or excessive, which does not align with the positive context of popularity.

Correct answer: signed

Explanation: The word 'signed' correctly fits the context of being officially enrolled or contracted, which is appropriate for a record deal. It matches the grammatical structure as the past participle used in the passive voice.

Meaning: 'Signed' means to have officially agreed to a contract, particularly in the music industry for a record deal.

Wrong options:

• made: Made does not fit contextually as it implies creation rather than the formal agreement required for a contract.
• written: Written suggests the act of composing something, which does not apply to the context of being contracted for a record.
• bought: Bought implies a purchase, which is not relevant to the context of signing a contract.

Correct answer: fancied

Explanation: The word 'fancied' fits grammatically as the past tense of 'fancy,' which means to like or prefer. It aligns contextually with the idea of viewers having a preference for a contestant.

Meaning: 'Fancied' means to have a liking or preference for someone or something, in this case, the contender for the title.

Wrong options:

• longed: Longed implies a strong desire, which does not fit the context of simply liking a contestant.
• craved: Craved suggests an intense desire, which is too strong for the context of voting for a favorite contestant.
• yearned: Yearned also implies a deep longing, which is not the appropriate sentiment for casual voting.

Correct answer: up

Explanation: The word 'up' fits grammatically and contextually, indicating being involved or engaged in something, which is appropriate for the drama of the show.

Meaning: 'Up' in this context means to be involved or caught in a situation, particularly in an emotional or dramatic sense.

Wrong options:

• out: Out suggests exclusion, which contradicts the idea of being engaged in the drama.
• through: Through implies completion or passage, which does not convey the sense of involvement in the ongoing drama.
• on: On suggests a state of being but does not convey the same sense of being caught in something as 'up' does.

Correct answer: teeth

Explanation: The phrase 'by the skin of his teeth' is an idiomatic expression meaning to narrowly succeed. 'Teeth' fits both grammatically and contextually as it is the correct part of the idiom.

Meaning: 'Teeth' refers to the literal teeth in the idiom, which symbolizes a narrow escape or success.

Wrong options:

• teeth: This is the correct answer.
• nose: Nose does not fit the idiom and does not convey the same meaning of narrowly succeeding.
• nails: Nails does not fit the idiom and is not commonly used in this context.
• feel: Feel does not fit grammatically or contextually, as it does not relate to the idiom.

Correct answer: made

Explanation: The word 'made' fits grammatically as the past participle in the passive voice, indicating that the puppet masters have profited from the show. It aligns contextually with the idea of gaining financial benefit.

Meaning: 'Made' in this context means to have earned or generated a profit, particularly from the show.

Wrong options:

• profited: Profited is a synonym but does not fit grammatically in the passive construction used here.
• got: Got is too informal and does not convey the same sense of financial gain as 'made.'
• acquired: Acquired implies obtaining something but does not specifically relate to financial gain in this context.