Those who blithely advocate a tax increase on wealthier corporations, indicating that many such corporations volunteer to pay more taxes, are mistaken. Firstly, such corporations often have (i)__________, self-serving motives that many in the public cannot or do not notice. Secondly, whether the corporations are cognizant of the fact or not, such tax raises would undoubtedly (ii)__________their global strength.


The clue for the first and second blank is that those who advocate tax increases AND point to the corporations that volunteer to pay more taxes to justify their stand are mistaken. So there must be some ulterior reason for the companies volunteering to pay more taxes, and this is strengthened by the clue "self-serving motives" immediately following the first blank. Thus ulterior is the right choice for the first blank. And since they are mistaken, it means that such tax increases will have adverse affect on their global strength. Thus sap is the correct answer for the second blank.