Although

Notice, fist thing fist, the contrast word at the beginning of the sentence. This will prepare you to a contrast. We have X and probably will end up having Y as a result. Let see what happen


she admitted that her airport expansion plan had recently collapsed,

She told the truth about the collapse or implosion of something (something is not so important, the key thing is that something went to die off)

the governor (i)_____ the significance of the failure, pointing out that competing economic development proposals are now more (ii)_____.



We said that we have an important contrast word at the beginning: although. Therefore, we have this, and then the governor minimized the failure and its relevancy. And why, if we have a failure, do we minimize it? because the

economic development proposals are NOT so important after all. And if they are NOT important, and for that we have minimized them - making them insubstantial or without consistency. Otherwise, they were important, but they are not. So, the proposals are tenuous or feeble. Neither important nor complicated.

I hope now is clear. Let me know

Regards

I thought it's A and F

Posted from my mobile device

This makes no sense.. I seriously thought it was - minimized / important.

Could you please share the official answer source or a screenshot ?

Posted from my mobile device

No at a closer look you are correct

The second blank also for me is important. I think the explanation above by the GRE tutor is a bit off

Let's analyze the sentence step by step:
The sentence states that the governor's airport expansion plan collapsed. However, the governor is "pointing out that competing economic development proposals are now more (ii) $\qquad$ ." This suggests that the governor is trying to downplay or reduce the perceived importance of the failure, possibly by arguing that other proposals have become more relevant or viable as a result.

For Blank (i): The governor is likely trying to make the failure seem less significant. So, we need a word that means "downplayed" or "made light of."
- A. minimized: means to reduce in importance or size; to make something seem less significant.
- B. touted: means to praise or promote highly; this would not fit because the governor is not promoting the failure.
- C. acknowledged: means to admit or recognize; this is neutral and doesn't convey the idea of downplaying.
"Minimized" is the best fit here because the governor is reducing the significance of the failure.
For Blank (ii): The governor is pointing out that competing proposals are now more something.
Since the failure of the airport plan might make other proposals more attractive or important, we need a word that indicates increased relevance or priority.
- D. tenuous: means weak or insubstantial; this would imply the proposals are less viable, which doesn't make sense in this context.
- E. complicated: means more complex; this doesn't necessarily imply they are better or more significant.
- F. important: means of greater significance; this fits perfectly because the governor is arguing that other proposals have gained importance due to the collapse of the airport plan.

Thus, the governor minimized the significance of the failure, pointing out that competing proposals are now more important.

Final answer:
Blank (i): A. minimized
Blank (ii): F. important