Cpe Part 1

Explanation
INITIATED (= started)is incorrect because Research Papers predated this surge in investment. "Peace talks have been initiated between the two sides."
You EVOKE a memory, a feeling, something immaterial. "The smell of apple tarts evoked images of my childhood."
You INCITE another person to do something, usually negative. "The images incited the villagers to violence."

Explanation
SIGNPOST is not generally used in a figurative way. KEYNOTE is used to express the central theme of something: "The Keynote speech set the tone for the rest of the conference." Literally CORNERSTONE is the the basis on which a building was based, and is used to express the most important basic element of something: "The cornerstone of Republican policy was fiscal reform." These two last words are not appropriate in this context because they both suggest that there must be some close relation or sequence in the developments, when simply the text implies remarkable or historic developments: LANDMARK

Explanation
CONVERSE is a mathematical term.
REVERSE is generally used as a verb referring to direction: "The flow of capital from Europe to Asia has reversed."
INVERSE is opposite in the widest sense: in position, direction,order or effect. It is an adjective, not a verb.
ADVERSE means unfavourable or unfortunate.

Explanation
The success of science does not constrain probabilities, forecasts or eventualities (= possibilities), as these cannot be 'constrained', (= forcibly restricted) as these exist in the present - only a future situation (=PROSPECT) can be limited.

Explanation
Of the four options, only 'witnessed' can be used in this sense. The others need human (or living) subjects.

Explanation
RETALIATE is not used in this sense. It implies an attack of some sort, not a debate.
CONTEND WITH means to face or deal with a problem or challenge.
RETORT is to answer somebody in an angry or ironic way. You simply retort (not: retort an argument)

Explanation
OVERTAKE means 'pass' or 'go in front of something'. We can use it to talk about vehicles, economies, wealth - it implies that one subject is in front of another. 'Feat' does not fit into this context.
Nor does EXCEL. Normally you excel in something ( = you are excellent at it) but it does not imply a competition between two subjects.
OUTDO is generally used when the subject is a person.

Explanation
SCORE and MEASURE require numerical answers, of quantity or size.
To CLASS is to categorise something.
RANK is to categorise according to a hierarchy,which is the context of this sentence.