Iodine deficiency is ____ in these remote mountain regions; however, it is no longer ____ in the lowlands where iodized salt is available.
A. recorded – unusual
B. rare – sporadic
C. eradicated – common
D. endemic – prevalent
E. diagnosed – controlled
It would be helpful here to look at the second part of the sentence first. “However” is an important word here because it suggests a contrast to what precedes it. The second part mentions that iodized salt is available in the lowlands, which would suggest that iodine deficiency is no longer a major problem in the lowlands. It would also suggest that it still is a problem in the remote mountain regions. The first blank will have something to do with the fact that iodine deficiency is still a problem in the remote regions; the second blank will be a word indicating that it is no longer a big issue in the lowlands. With those stipulations, the only choice that makes any sense is (D). The answer is (D).
source: majortests.com
