Because repeated handling had begun to fray the pages of a university library’s field notebooks, the staff responded with [Blank 1]: they [Blank 2] the originals and provided scans to researchers in their place, thereby [Blank 3] further wear while preserving access to the notes.
Select one answer for each blank.
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Blank 1: A (concern)Blank 2: F (stored)Blank 3: I (limiting)
The clearest clue for Blank 2 is that repeated handling was fraying the notebooks and researchers were given scans in place of the originals. Indexing the originals would make their contents easier to find, but would not protect the pages from handling. Insuring them would address a possible financial loss, not the stated cause of wear. Storing the originals keeps them from being handled by researchers. For Blank 3, the word “thereby” asks for the consequence of storing the originals and supplying scans. Documenting further wear would record it without reducing it. Repairing wear would require a restoration effort that the sentence does not mention. Limiting further wear follows from reducing access to the physical notebooks. These actions also settle Blank 1. Curiosity could prompt staff to examine the notebooks, but it does not explain their response to the fraying pages. Contempt would indicate disregard for the notebooks, contrary to the effort to protect them and preserve access to their contents. Concern fits that response. The correct answer is concern, stored, and limiting.