Meaning: 'Consumption' refers to the use of goods and services by consumers, particularly in the context of how much of a resource is being used.

Wrong options:

• addiction: 'Addiction' refers to a compulsive need for a substance, which does not fit the context of rationing as it implies a negative dependency rather than a reduction in use.
• promotion: 'Promotion' refers to the act of encouraging or advertising something, which is unrelated to the concept of reducing resource use.
• worth: 'Worth' indicates value or importance, which does not relate to the act of using resources and therefore does not fit the context.

Correct answer: which

Explanation: The word 'which' is a relative pronoun that introduces a clause providing additional information about the hours, making it grammatically and contextually suitable for the sentence.

Meaning: 'Which' is used to refer to a specific thing or things from a defined set, in this case, the hours during which the commodity is available.

Wrong options:

• when: 'When' is an adverb indicating time but does not function as a pronoun to introduce a clause, making it grammatically incorrect in this context.
• who: 'Who' is a pronoun used for people, which does not apply to the context of hours, making it an inappropriate choice.
• how: 'How' is an adverb that asks about the manner of something, which does not fit the grammatical structure needed here.

Correct answer: standardized

Explanation: The term 'standardized' fits grammatically as a past participle that describes commodities that cannot be made uniform or consistent, aligning with the context of rationing by value.

Meaning: 'Standardized' means made to conform to a standard, which in this context refers to commodities that vary in quality or type and cannot be uniformly priced.

Wrong options:

• organized: 'Organized' refers to arranging or structuring something, which does not relate to the concept of uniformity in commodities.
• prepared: 'Prepared' means made ready for use, which does not fit the context of commodities that cannot be standardized.
• educated: 'Educated' refers to having knowledge or training, which is unrelated to the context of commodity pricing.

Correct answer: substituting

Explanation: The word 'substituting' fits grammatically as a gerund that describes the action of replacing rationed items with unrationed ones, making it contextually relevant to the discussion of consumer behavior during shortages.

Meaning: 'Substituting' means replacing one thing with another, in this case, using unrationed items instead of rationed ones.

Wrong options:

• predicting: 'Predicting' refers to forecasting future events, which does not relate to the action of replacing items in the context of rationing.
• comforting: 'Comforting' means providing solace or reassurance, which is irrelevant to the context of rationing and consumer behavior.
• roll up: 'Roll up' is a colloquial phrase that does not fit the formal context of the sentence and lacks relevance to the action of substituting items.

Correct answer: exhorted

Explanation: The term 'exhorted' fits grammatically as a past participle that indicates consumers are urged or strongly encouraged to save, aligning well with the context of economic measures during rationing.

Meaning: 'Exhorted' means to strongly encourage or urge someone to do something, in this case, to save money.

Wrong options:

• departed: 'Departed' refers to having left or gone away, which does not fit the context of urging consumers to take action.
• arrived: 'Arrived' means to have reached a destination, which is unrelated to the context of consumer behavior in a rationed economy.
• exhausted: 'Exhausted' means drained of energy or resources, which does not convey the intended meaning of urging consumers to save.