This question tests careful reading of tone along with knowing precise word meanings. The manager's speech has two parts that each need a specific type of word: a negative verb about numbers in the first blank, and a positive verb about trust in the second blank.
- exaggerates; engenders: "Exaggerates the numbers" means he inflates or overstates them, which directly matches the warning that follows: "False claims are not going to help." "Engenders trust" means honesty gives rise to trust, which matches the positive meaning of the second sentence. Both fit.
- excels; encourages: "Excels" is usually followed by "at" or "in", not used with a direct object like "the numbers", so "he often excels the numbers" reads as broken English. This option is out on grammar alone.
- aggravates; alleviates: You aggravate a wound or a dispute, not a set of numbers, so the phrase feels forced. Worse, "alleviates trust" means honesty eases or lessens trust, which is the reverse of what honesty is meant to do.
- diminishes; eliminates: "Diminishes the numbers" would mean playing figures down, not inflating them, so it does not connect with "false claims". "Eliminates trust" says honesty destroys trust, which contradicts the entire idea of the sentence.
Only "exaggerates; engenders" keeps both halves of the sentence logically consistent: exaggeration is the false claim being warned against, and engendering is what honesty is supposed to do to trust.
Let's summarize:
- The first blank must mean "overstates" or "inflates", since it is tied to "false claims".
- The second blank must mean "creates" or "builds", since honesty is contrasted against false claims as the trustworthy option.
So the correct order of words is "exaggerates; engenders", option (A).