1. Does your tone ________ that he can't be responsible?

• imply
  'Imply' means to suggest or indicate;
  'infer' means to draw a conclusion from.
  

2. The smoke had an eerie _______ on the play's set.

• effect
  'Effect' is a change or result; 'affect' is always a verb that means to pretend to feel or be, to like and display or to produce an effect.
  

3. Mom placed the vase on the __________.

• mantel
  A 'mantel' is a shelf, and a mantle is a cloak.
  

4. The diamond weighed two __________.

• carats
  'Carats' are used to measure weight of precious stones. 'Karats' measure the ratio of gold to the mixed alloy.
  

5. Jan's mistake was the _____________ cause.

• principal
  'Principal' means someone or something first in rank, authority, or importance. 'Principle' means a fundmental truth, law or doctrine.
  

6. The total in attendance was ________ 100.

• more than
  Over and under are best used for spatial relationships. When using figures, more than and less than are better choices.
  

7. The student gave a(n) __________ report of her findings.

• oral
  Oral is used when the mouth is central to the idea, as in this case. Verbal may refer to spoken or written words.
  

8. Montgomery is Alabama's state __________.

• capital
  Capital refers to a seat of government. A capitol is the building in which a legislature sits. Capital is the correct answer.
  

9. Jim is exhausted and needs to ________ down.

• lie
  Lie is a state of being, while lay is the action work. Lay needs an object to be used correctly. Lie is the correct choice.
  

10. Charles Manson received a life sentence for the ______ murders he ordered.

• grisly
  Grisly - horrifying; grizzly - bearish
  

11. The astronauts offered their final words of ______ before takeoff.

• goodbye
  Goodbye - not goodby
  

12. During the Civil War, Richmond was ____________ by Union bombardment.

• ravaged
  To ravage is to wreak great destruction; to ravish is to abduct, rape, or carry away with emotion. Buildings and towns cannot be ravished.
  

13. Reagan will be staying in the Royal Dutch _______ .

• suite
  Suite refers to a set of rooms & furniture; suits refers to clothes, cards or law suits.
  

14. The poll showed that the phrase “U.S. defense system” ___________ destruction and death.

• connotes
  Denotes implies a specific meaning; connotes means to suggest or imply.
  

15. The candidate argued for a more ________________ distribution of wealth in this nation.

• equitable
  Equal is an adjective that has no comparatives; that is, you cannot say that something is 'more equal' or 'less equal.' The adjective equitable does have comparatives. Therefore, it is the correct answer.