Q9 Timed Verbal Practice - Medium Section 1 Sample Test #5 -Why is the answer not A and E?

GRE Verbal Problem Solving
1

The answer key identifies “potent” and “strong” as the correct answers. However, wouldn’t “damaging” and “injurious” be more appropriate in this context? The evidence points to the administration’s resistance to criticism, suggesting that the report likely contains harsh or harmful content rather than merely being “strong.” A “strong” report could lack any criticism at all. What specific evidence supports the interpretation that the report is potent in a constructive sense, rather than damaging or critical?

QUESTION:
The committee’s report, though _________, will likely have little effect, as the administration has shown itself impervious to criticism.

damaging
potent
critical
naive
injurious
strong

SOURCE
Timed Verbal Practice - Medium Section 1 Sample Test #5

2

Hi, I think because injurious and damaging would be too much of a contradiction with having little effect.

3

I believe that it’s because “damaging” and “injurious” indicate that the damage is already done, but the sentence indicates that the report has not yet done damage (and likely won’t)