Shouldn't the second blank be contemplation? Why is it despair???

I got this correct.

Faced with something short of choices , Clarrisa fell silent for something.

Minuscule means tiny not relevant.
Quota means some fixed number
Bevy means similars things in large quantinty. I felt that Bevy suits here since quota doesn't make sense.

Contemplate means something we should consider before we act..not suitable
Reverie means daydream.
Despair means kind of some pain..suits better.

why not Reverie ? 'daydream' ?

And, she indeed was about to act. Right? To choose a pastry or any product in the patisserie.

I still have notions about 'contemplate'. Can somebody tell me why it has to be 'despair'?