Question

Fill in the blanks with the right choice of words.

The journalist ____ the efforts of the drug squad to control drug peddling, claiming that they had actually ____ the problem.

• A. commended - increased
• B. lauded - intensified
• C. decried - solved
• D. deprecated - exacerbated
• E. noted - caused

Answer 1

The correct option is D deprecated - exacerbated

The verb 'deprecated' means to disparage or belittleand it best befits the context of the first blank whereas the verb 'exacerbated' means to make (a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling) worse.which fits the context of the second blank. Thus D is the correct answer- it fits the given context and conveys the required meaning.

The journalist deprecated the efforts of the drug squad to control drug peddling, claiming that they had actually exacerbated the problem.

None of the other choices fit the context