Difficulty: Medium

Average Score: 50%

The following sentence has a blank indicating that something has been left out. Beneath the sentence are four words or phrases. Choose the word or phrase that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole. Ecologist Frank Ortega warned that the state's decision to ______ the rigid standards for disposal of toxic wastes would be construed as a signal that sloppiness in handling such wastes will be tolerated.

Ecologist Frank Ortega warned that the state's decision to ______ the rigid standards for disposal of toxic wastes would be construed as a signal that sloppiness in handling such wastes will be tolerated.

Rationale

Ecologist Frank Ortega warned that the state's decision to relax the rigid standards for disposal of toxic wastes would be construed as a signal that sloppiness in handling such wastes will be tolerated.

Relaxing the rigid standards implies a reduction in the strictness of regulations, which could lead to increased risk in the handling of toxic wastes, as Ortega noted. This choice directly aligns with the context of the sentence, emphasizing the potential consequences of less stringent waste disposal regulations.

A (enforce) YOUR ANSWER

Enforcing the rigid standards would imply strengthening the regulations surrounding toxic waste disposal, which contradicts the warning given by Ortega. Instead of signaling tolerance for sloppiness, enforcing standards would suggest a commitment to strict environmental protections.

B (codify) YOUR ANSWER

Codifying the standards means to formally arrange and set them into a systematic code or law. While this could imply a formalization of standards, it does not indicate any change in their strictness or a relaxation of requirements. Therefore, it does not align with the context of potential leniency.

D (publicize) YOUR ANSWER

Publicizing the standards refers to making them widely known or disseminated. This action would not inherently change the strictness of the waste disposal standards, nor would it suggest a tolerance for sloppiness in handling toxic wastes. It focuses on awareness rather than altering the nature of the regulations.

Conclusion

The decision to relax the standards for toxic waste disposal signifies a potential shift toward leniency, which aligns with Ortega's concern regarding the implications of such a decision. By contrasting this with the other choices, it becomes evident that relaxing the standards poses a risk to environmental safety, fostering an atmosphere in which negligence in waste management may be accepted.

Ecologist Frank Ortega warned that the state's decision to ______ the rigid standards for disposal of toxic wastes would be construed as a signal that sloppiness in handling such wastes will be tolerated.

Ecologist Frank Ortega warned that the state's decision to relax the rigid standards for disposal of toxic wastes would be construed as a signal that sloppiness in handling such wastes will be tolerated.

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