2.  In spite of the ______ of his presentation, many people were _______ with the speaker's concepts and ideas.

A) interest...enthralled
B) power...taken
C) intensity...shocked
D) greatness...gratified
E) strength...bored

A) Watch for key words. "In spite of" signals a contrast or opposite. "Interest" and "enthralled" do not show a real contrast. "Strength" and "bored" do show a contrast. Choice E is correct. See Sentence Completion Strategy 4, p. 122, to  practice with the strategy.

B) Watch for key words. "In spite of" signals a contrast or opposite. "Power" and "taken" do not show a contrast. "Strength" and "bored" do show a contrast. Choice E is correct. See Sentence Completion Strategy 4, p. 122, to practice with the strategy.

C) Watch for key words. "In spite of" signals a contrast or opposite. "Intensity" and "shocked" do not really show a contrast. "Strength" and "bored" do show a contrast. Choice E is correct. See Sentence Completion Strategy 4, p. 122, to practice with the strategy.

D) Watch for key words. "In spite of" signals a contrast or opposite. "Greatness" and "gratified" do not show a contrast. In fact one may follow from the other. "Strength" and "bored" do show a contrast. Choice E is correct. See Sentence Completion Strategy 4, p. 122, to practice with the strategy.

(E) You are right. You apparently noticed key words: "In spite of," which signal a contrast or opposite. And "strength" and "bored" do show a contrast. See Sentence Completion Strategy 4, p. 122, to practice with the strategy.