Question

every year, about a thousand icebergs drift through the shipping lanes off newfoundland’s grand banks. they are vast islands of ice, some towering two hundred feet (61 m) into the air. icebergs are especially treacherous for ships because most of their bulk lies hidden beneath the ocean’s surface. they are pitilessly solid, immovable, and indestructible. shipping lanes are ______ by icebergs.

• broadened
• insulated
• hampered
• neutralized

Explanation:

The passage describes icebergs as treacherous, solid, and immovable obstacles in shipping lanes. "Broadened" means made wider, which does not fit the negative impact of icebergs. "Insulated" means protected from heat/cold, irrelevant here. "Neutralized" means rendered harmless, which is the opposite of the icebergs' effect. "Hampered" means obstructed or hindered, which matches the idea that icebergs disrupt shipping lanes.

Answer:

hampered