Out of the given options, poignant means ‘evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret’.

Therefore, option D is the correct answer.

The meanings of other words are as follows:

• Challenging: testing one's abilities; demanding.

• Exhilarated: very happy, animated, or elated.

• Panicky: feeling or characterized by uncontrollable fear or anxiety.

• Exasperating: intensely irritating and frustrating.

Out of the given options, abrupt meaning sudden and unexpected’ is the correct fit.

Therefore, option A is the correct answer.

The meanings of other words are as follows:

• Uneasy: causing or feeling anxiety; troubled or uncomfortable.

• Eclectic: deriving ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources.

• Variegated: exhibiting different colours, especially as irregular patches or streaks.

• Opinionated: characterized by conceited assertiveness and dogmatism.

Out of the given options, pervasive meaning ‘(especially of an unwelcome influence or physical effect) spreading widely throughout an area or a group of people’ is the correct fit.

Therefore, option A is the correct answer.

The meanings of other words are:

• Doughty: brave and persistent.

• Gallant: (of a person or their behaviour) brave; heroic.

• Piquant: having a pleasantly sharp taste or appetizing flavour.

• Fascinating: extremely interesting.

 The phrase ‘leg-up’ means ‘an act of helping someone or something to improve their situation’.

For example: He gave hip-hop a much-needed leg-up.

 The phrase ‘glide path’ means ‘series of events or actions leading smoothly to a particular outcome’.

For example: We are on a glide path to success.

 The phrase ‘time is ripe’ means ‘a suitable point for a particular activity’.

For example: Letters shall direct your course when time is ripe.

 The phrase ‘in a positive light’ means ‘in a favourable way’.

For example: He was angry because the film didn’t portray him in a positive light.

Phrases like ‘one of those who’ or ‘one of the things that’ must be followed by a plural verb. The relative pronoun “who” refers to the plural subject “officers”, thus, we need a plural verb. Therefore, in the given sentence, the verb should be ‘follow’ instead of “follows” to maintain the subject-verb agreement.

Note: When referring to people, we use ‘who’ and not ‘which’. ‘Which’ is used to refer to groups or things.

Therefore, the improved sentence is: He is not one of those officers who follow orders blindly and thoughtlessly.

The sentence requires a noun while an adjective is used which makes it erroneous.

Therefore, ‘permissive’ must be replaced with ‘permission’ to make the sentence grammatically correct.

‘Both’ is never paired with ‘as well as’. 'Both' is paired with ‘and’ to add emphasis to two coordinated elements in a sentence. 'Both' is not paired with 'as well as'. In the given sentence, either "both" must be removed or "as well as" must be changed to "and". Since "as well as" has to be replaced, "and" is the correct answer.

Hence, the correct sentence will be: Both the book and its theatrical adaptation has received accolades from the audience.

 The phrase ‘vote down’ means ‘to defeat or reject by voting’.

For example: The proposal was voted down.

 The phrase ‘lay the groundwork’ means ‘to provide the basics or fundamentals’.

For example: The introductory mathematics courses will lay the groundwork for all your subsequent engineering studies.

 The phrase ‘take the lead’ means ‘to accept responsibility for dealing with a situation’.

For example: The United States took the lead in trying to salvage a deal at the peace talks.

The error is in the second part of the statement. 'Be' is superfluous and thus needs to be omitted.

The correct phrase is 'feed on' which means to eat (something) as food. Thus, we need to replace 'feed at' with 'feed on' to make it grammatically correct.