In each of the following questions, a sentence is given with two blanks, indicating that some parts are missing. Choose the option that provides the correct pair of words to fit the blanks, making the sentence grammatically correct and contextually meaningful. The municipal government’s attempt to revitalize the deteriorating downtown district through heavy subsidization was widely dismissed by economists as a purely ________ measure that would ultimately ________ the city's already strained fiscal reserves.

The sentence sets a highly critical tone: economists are "dismissing" the government's attempts. Therefore, the first blank must be a derogatory or critical adjective describing a weak or temporary solution. "Palliative" refers to a treatment that relieves symptoms without curing the underlying cause, which perfectly describes a temporary economic bandage. The second blank must describe a negative impact on the "already strained fiscal reserves." "Deplete" (to exhaust or empty) correctly illustrates the financial drain of heavy subsidization. • Option (a) fails because "pragmatic" (practical) and "bolster" (strengthen) are entirely positive words, contradicting the economists' dismissal. • Option (b) uses "visionary," which is highly positive and clashes with the negative reception of the policy. • Option (c) uses "draconian" (excessively harsh), which does not describe giving out subsidies, and "augment" means to increase, which you would not complain about regarding fiscal reserves. • Option (d) has a plausible first word ("superficial"), but "galvanize" means to shock or excite into action, which makes no sense when applied to financial reserves.