- Step 1: "Mitigate" means to reduce or lessen.
- Step 2: Evaluate: (1) Aggravate (worsen), (2) Alleviate (reduce), (3) Intensify (increase), (4) Complicate (make complex).
- Step 3: Alleviate is synonymous with mitigate.
- Step 4: Eliminate options that mean the opposite or unrelated.
- Step 5: Option (2) is correct.