Study the following sequence of symbol pairs:
$$)\ast ,\&\%,)\ast ,\&\%,)\ast ,\&\%,)\ast ,\_\_\_,)\ast ,\&\%,)\ast ,\&\%$$

Carefully observe the pattern and identify how the two symbol groups repeat in a fixed order, then determine the correct symbol combination that completes the sequence.

Let's analyze the given pattern by numbering the positions of the symbol pairs:
1. $)\ast$
2. $\&\%$
3. $)\ast$
4. $\&\%$
5. $)\ast$
6. $\&\%$
7. $)\ast$
8. $\_\_\_$
9. $)\ast$
10. $\&\%$
11. $)\ast$
12. $\&\%$

We can observe an alternating pattern:

* Odd positions (1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 11th) contain the symbol pair $)\ast$.
* Even positions (2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th, 12th) contain the symbol pair $\&\%$.

Since the blank is at the 8th position (an even position), it must be filled with $\&\%$.