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Re: Based on the desire to restrict further water pollution, the
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13 Sep 2017, 17:33
Explanation
The trigger word but is key in this sentence because it denotes a reversal over time. Since you are told that those who had fought for its ratification were discouraged, the word but tells you they were once encouraged. Therefore, auspicious and promising fit the blank as they tell the same story as encouraged. Bleak and unfavorable tell the opposite story and are not correct. Suspicious means distrustful and ineffectual means useless, and neither word fits the meaning of the blank.
Hence options B and E is correct!