Considering the consensus of the world's leading meteorologists that there will be a vastly greater number of natural calamities (such as hurricanes and floods) during the first several decades of the twenty-first century, some experts recommended that more developing countries should do what Bangladesh has done--build into their development plans strategies to _______ the impact of such disasters on development.
a. ameliorate
b. attenuate
c. comprehend
The answer to the blank is ameliorate in the book Barron's GRE Verbal Workbook, 2nd Edition
I have heard many times phrases like to minimize impact, to soften impact etc. So, thought the answer should be to attenuate the impact.
Can you please explain why doesn't the word attenuate work here?