OE


In the first sentence, we learn that female dancers' corsets, hoops, and high heels prevented them from taking center stage - probably because the costumes were simply too difficult to move in. Disheveled does not make very much sense; there is no indication that the dancers' costumes were routinely untidy or disordered, and even if they were, couldn't they simply fix them? Maladroit is not a good fit because it usually describes people or their actions, not clothing; it means inept or awkward. Cumbersome (burdensome or unwieldy) is the correct answer.
To fill in the last two blanks, think about the way this passage describes ballet dancers; they act the part of nymphs and spirits, they float effortlessly, and they are ethereal. Your answers need to mesh with these descriptions. Dulcet means soothing or melodious; it usually refers to sound, so it is probably not the best description of costumes. Meretricious (tawdry or based on pretense) is too negative a word. Diaphanous is the best answer; it means very sheer and light and fits in well with the passage's depiction of ballet dancers.
Brittle (easily damaged or destroyed) will not work well for the last blank; dancers' bodies may seem fragile, but the connotations of brittle are too negative for a passage that otherwise describes the dancers in flattering terms. Supine does not make sense; a dancer could hardly remain inactive or lying on her back. The best answer is lithe, which means supple or limber.