1st question is a bit tricky. By using POE, I was left with C and D. Carcass Need you help in this one.

In the context in which it appears, “severe” most nearly means
A. austere - simple. Out of context as we are talking about invasive species
B. strict - opposite as inspection does not any importance
C. plain
D. momentous
E. trivial - means not important. If it were not worthy, then the author would not have said this "the potential losses from introductions of poorly understood or surreptitiously introduced invasive species."

Which of the following best characterizes the function of the following portion of the passage? It just says that inspection does not have any value

(“ … appears not to have any economic content.”)

A. It reiterates an assertion previously stated in the passage. - there is fact in the previous sentence not the assertion.
B. It provides concrete evidence that supports the passage’s position. - Opposite and extreme. It provides the conclusion
C. It provides a specific instance illustrating a broader principle. - out of scope
D. It suggests that a particular strategy is unsound. - unsound because it does not have any economic value
E. It summarizes a justification for a policy with which the author disagrees - distorted language