Each question below has two blanks, which is indicating

Solution

Alleviate: reduce or ease (e.g., pressure, tension) Infringe: violate or encroach upon (rights, sovereignty) Mitigate: soften or reduce severity Abrogate: formally abolish (a law, agreement) Pacify: calm or soothe Undermine: weaken covertly or gradually Neutralize: render ineffective Repudiate: reject or deny formally Assuage: relieve (emotion, concern) Endorse: support or approve a) mitigate, abrogate – Abrogate sovereignty is far too strong and formal; abrogate is used for treaties, not inherent concepts like sovereignty. Context mismatch. b) pacify, undermine – Pacify fits informally, but lacks the diplomatic tone. Undermine is plausible, but makes the move too direct. Slight stylistic inconsistency. c) neutralize, repudiate – Neutralize tensions sounds militaristic; better used with threats/weapons. Repudiate sovereignty implies total denial — too extreme. Overreach. d) assuage, endorse – Assuage tensions is valid, but endorse sovereignty contradicts the sentence’s implication of violating it. Logical inconsistency.