In the question below, a sentence is given with two words missing. You are given five options each containing a pair of words that can or cannot be filled in the blanks to make the sentence grammatically or contextually correct. Identify the words that are opposite in meaning and make the sentence grammatically or contextually correct. As vaccines and immunity ______ the pandemic, children will return to the public eye, sparking a/an ______ in reporting in child maltreatment allegations.

Each of the options (b) and (c) have two unrelated words while option (a) has two words similar in meaning and thus, can be eliminated. Pair of antonyms in option (d) is contextually unfit because they cannot relate to the pandemic and its vaccine. 'Abate (reduce)' and 'increase' are antonyms which can fill the blank aptly and convey a meaning that as vaccines are helping in the reduction of the pandemic there will soon be children around and then there will be a sudden increase in reporting in child maltreatment allegations. 'Rebate' means 'pay back' while 'take on' means 'confront.' Hence, option (e) is correct.