In the following passage, some of the words have been left out. Read the passage carefully and select the correct answer for the given blank out of the four alternatives.
Since the justification for the demand of anonymity and confidentiality is [Blank 96] questioned by reporters, and since the deals [Blank 97] routinely between reporter and privileged source to grant confidential [Blank 98] are rarely monitored and supervised properly within the newsroom, the misuse of sources by journalists, and what is [Blank 99] damaging, the misuse of journalists and the news media by privileged sources [Blank 100] epidemic proportions.

For Blank 100:

1. A
   assume
2. B
   have assumed
3. C
   so assume
4. D
   being assumed