Most spacecraft are still at little risk of collision with space debris during their operational lifetimes, but given the numbers of new satellites launched each year, the orbital environment in the future is likely to be less (i) __________

We are told that at present there is little risk of collision of spacecraft with space debris. We then have the thought contrastor "but", so we must expect the opposite scenario in the second part of the sentence. Thus we can predict that the orbital environment in the future is likely to be dangerous or less safe.

We are looking for a synonym of safe. The word benign goes well as a descriptor of the environment and a synonym of safe.

The word protected looks good too but we are moving from a less risky scenario to a more risky scenario. It is not that the environment was well-protected in the past and now its not so, rather it was safe in the past and not so safe now.

It is also a question of usage, and not just grammar; The environment is better described as benign rather than as protected, in this particular context.
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why is the answer E? I assumed it to be A. Please help. Thanks

My bad I missed little risk...need to read the prompt carefully!!

Explanation

Until now in space, the situation with all the satellites out there is under control. But soon will become less prone to be so good or benign.

E wins
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Why not C "protected"?

See my previous explanation. The word risk is the key to understand and fill the blank.

Regards
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usage of BUT is correct? That actually giving me a sense of using contradictory word in the blank to the first sentence.

Absolutely. The usage of BUT is perfectly fine as a transition connection.

We do have X, but considering Y, the result will be Z.

Hope this helps.

Ask for further assistance.

Regards
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E

I chose C. Can anyone please explain why E

Here the meaning of the sentence is that the situation into space does not present a high risk, at the moment. But how we do lunch more and more spacecraft into it , the spacecraft itself are not so secure due to the debris.

So, the overall scenario is that it will not be so safe as for now. Safe = benign

Hope now is more clear to you
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I am confused between benign and invulnerable. Do both not mean "harmless"?

It means impossible to harm or damage. Like Superman.

Benign is quite different in its meaning.

Regards
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Thank you for this explanation as invulnerable also had me in a quandary.

Most spacecraft are still at little risk of collision with space debris during their operational lifetimes, but given the numbers of new satellites launched each year, the orbital environment in the future is likely to be less _____.
A crowded

B invulnerable

C protected

D polluted

E benign

Hi, this is not the way to post, as this would create a ambiguity . Could you plz read the https://greprepclub.com/forum/rules-for ... -1083.html

and input the necessary tags such as the :

1. Source of the question

2. Verbal or Quant

3. TC/SC or RC

Moreover I believe the ques is from Powerprep, if so here is the link :: https://greprepclub.com/forum/gre-power ... html#p6284
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Most spacecraft are still at little risk of collision with space debris during their operational lifetimes, but given the numbers of new satellites launched each year, the orbital environment in the future is likely to be less _____.
A crowded

B invulnerable

C protected

D polluted

E benign

Merged similar topic.

Please read the now just released guide how to format a verbal question in one second

https://greprepclub.com/forum/how-to-po ... 12927.html

Moreover, all the powerprep question as explained here, which is an announcement post just for being visible as much as is possible to the students

https://greprepclub.com/forum/gre-power ... -3118.html

here also the pdf version of the same questions by skypetutor

https://greprepclub.com/forum/vince-and ... 12946.html

Regards
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C is incorrect because of the implication of "the orbital environment in the future is likely to be less (i) __________"

If the orbital environment is likely to be less (C)protected, that implies the orbital environment was (at least partially) protected in the first place. Nothing in the first part of the sentence suggests that this is the case. It's important to appreciate the distinction between a low risk situation and one that is protected. That is the key to this question.