Complete the series: $36,54,74,96,120,\_\_\_\_\_\_\_$.

Let's find the differences between consecutive terms:
* $54-36=14+4=18$
* $74-54=20$
* $96-74=22$
* $120-96=24$

The differences form an arithmetic progression increasing by $+2$ at each step ($18,20,22,24$). The next difference must be $24+2=26$.

$$\text{Next term}=120+26=146$$