Direction: Read the given passage carefully to answer the following questions. Each question will have five alternatives as its answer. Choose the correct option as your answer As global efforts to curb carbon emissions continue to intensify, particular attention has been drawn to the transportation industry, one sector with significant potential to effect positive change. The drive towards increased electric vehicle (EV) usage is gathering pace, with more consumers moving away from fossil fuel-dependent engines. This transition is expected to build on momentum already achieved in renewable energy sectors, setting the stage for a more sustainable future. However, success in this field is heavily predicated on the wide-scale availability of element X, a crucial ingredient for the production of EVs, particularly in the manufacture of powerful, reliable batteries. Element X brings together the perfect blend of lightness, energy capacity, heat tolerance, and cost-effectiveness, qualities that soundly position it as an indispensable material in EV battery production. As global demand for EVs increases, the scale of production and consumption of element X will take an equivalent uptick, impacting a steep upward growth curve on the global market. With governments and corporations across the globe actively driving the transition to green energy, the surge in EV's adoption will lead to an unparalleled build-up in demand for this critical ingredient. This dynamic presents both opportunities and challenges. On the one hand, the elevated production of element X will contribute to job creation and economic growth in regions where its extraction and refining occur, offering an economic uplift. On the other hand, its extraction and processing must be managed in an environmentally and socially responsible way to match the green ideals of the EV movement. In this context, planning for the future must consider investment in infrastructural expansion, research into alternate or synthetic substitutes for element X, and regulations that incentivize responsible and sustainable mining. This is a crucial step to not only meet burgeoning demand but also mitigate any negative environmental or social implications. Ultimately, the drive to increase EV usage necessitates a corresponding upswing in the production and processing of element X. As such, efforts to curb reliance on fossil fuels will catalyze a new trajectory in the mining sector, poised to meet the growing demand of this critical element that underpins the growth of EVs. Which of the following words is a synonym for the word 'curb' as used in the passage?
- A.Encourage
- B.Boost
- C.Suppress
- D.Amplify
- E.Raise