[Answer] The gift was an obvious attempt to ________ the angry committee members.

Step 1 : Introduction to the question "The gift was an obvious attempt to ________ the angry committee members."

...1. Placate 2. Nascent 3. Boffo 4. Mondegreen

[Answer] sermons such as sinners in the hands of an angry god were written largely in response to

Step 1 : Introduction to the question "sermons such as sinners in the hands of an angry god were written largely in response to"

...the rejection of religion in favor of rationalism by some colonists.