Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
Answer:While reforestation efforts are crucial for sequestering atmospheric carbon dioxide, environmental scientists emphasize that planting trees alone cannot 【mitigate】 the long-term impact of global greenhouse gas emissions. Because trees absorb carbon at a rate that is far outpaced by current industrial output, such ecological initiatives will remain insufficient unless they are paired with a substantial, direct reduction in fossil fuel consumption.
Answer
mitigate (or a close synonym such as offset or counteract)
The sentence establishes a contrast between the usefulness of reforestation and its limitations when done in isolation. The blank requires a word that means to lessen the severity of or counteract the impact of emissions. Words like 'mitigate,' 'offset,' or 'counteract' fit this context precisely, indicating that tree planting alone cannot sufficiently reduce or neutralize the negative effects of global emissions.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Identifying a word that is semantically and grammatically precise within the context of a short academic passage.