17. The chronic depletion of groundwater resources        derive from       inadequate provision of infrastructure and       lack of       policies  that reinforce conservation practices across       various       agricultural and industrial sectors throughout the country’s rural and        urban regions      .
(A) derive from
(B)lack of
(C)various
(D)urban regions

13. The board was unsure ______ the proposed strategy would yield measurable results within the quarter. (A) of (B) whether (C) that (D) if or not

14. The experiment was a failure; ______, the data collected will still inform future studies. (A) and (B) however (C) since (D) otherwise

15. The ancient manuscript, ______ had been damaged by water, was carefully restored by experts. (A) the cover of which (B) of which the cover (C) which the cover of (D) whose the cover 

Part B: Identify the grammatically INCORRECT word or phrase. 16. Despite conducting        extensive researches      , the review committee fails to recognize           how the algorithm       disproportionately  affects communities       on the margins      , particularly those without stable housing or reliable        internet access       in rural areas. (A)extensive researches(B) how the algorithm(C)on the margins(D)internet access

18. Although the framework       appears legitimate       and was initially well-received, subsequent investigations       have revealed        inconsistencies that undermine its ability       to address on       ethical concerns       raised       by stakeholders from multiple sectors. (A)appears legitimate(B)have revealed(C) to address on (D)raised

19. The       professor’s comment       that the theory is highly cognitive       and demonstrates       an authentic understanding of immersive  learning       sounded impressed       to many, especially       those unfamiliar with       such abstract concepts in applied education contexts. (A)professor’s comment(B)and demonstrates(C)sounded impressed(D)those unfamiliar with 

20. The environmental researchers  warned that       what’s at stake       are not only financial losses but also the presence of species       whose       disappearance provokes       cascading       ecological consequences       may gradually       transform entire biomes and threaten the  stability of interdependent ecosystems worldwide. (A)what’s at stake(B)whose(C)cascading(D)may gradually

21. (A) Instead (B) Meanwhile (C) Thus (D) Yet

22. (A) in case of (B) in favor of (C) in terms of (D) on behalf of

23. (A) high-latency (B) pre-programmed (C) real-time (D) slow-paced