However, at this point, the 2 ____________ molecules are ____________ , freeing NAD⁺ to return to the glycolytic pathway.

Answer 1

The answer may be "the 2 NADH molecules are oxidized, freeing NAD+ to return to the glycolytic pathway".

There's very little context to go off, as your question appears to be part of a larger set. However, I reached my answer by assuming the question is about either the Krebs (citric acid) cycle or glycolysis.

In these pathways, NAD is an energy-carrying molecule which comes in two forms:

1. NADH, the reduced, high-energy form which can be oxidized to form NAD+
2. NAD+, the oxidized, low-energy form which can be reduced to form NADH

Let me know if this answer is correct, or if you need further clarification.