Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

Contrary to the mayor’s claims that her economic policies have solved the city’s traditional crime problem, statistics suggest that these policies have in fact ------- it.

A. forestalled
B. diminished
C. exacerbated
D. rejuvenated
E. eliminated

Correct Answer: C

Here's Why:

Choice (C) is correct. If this term were inserted into the sentence, the sentence would read Contrary to the mayor’s claims that her economic policies have solved the city’s traditional crime problem, statistics suggest that these policies have in fact exacerbated it. The word contrary indicates that statistics will show the result of the mayor’s economic policies to be the opposite of what the mayor is claiming. Since exacerbated means made worse, and the mayor is claiming that the policies solved the problem, the term exacerbated is the logical choice.