Although the new policy was intended to _____ bureaucratic inefficiency, its immediate effect was to _____ the very problems it sought to resolve, complicating processes rather than simplifying them.

The correct answer to the question "Although the new policy was intended to _____ bureaucratic inefficiency, its immediate effect was to _____ the very problems it sought to resolve, complicating processes rather than simplifying them." is Option B: alleviate...exacerbate.

The other options — A) mitigate...ameliorate, C) remedy...rectify, D) curtail...diminish — are incorrect for this GRE Exam Prep question. As explained above: The word 'Although' signals a contrast. The policy intended to lessen (alleviate/mitigate/remedy/curtail) inefficiency, but its 'immediate effect' was to worsen (exacerbate) the problems. 'Alleviate.…