Meaning: 'Out' in this context means to be removed or eliminated from a particular situation, specifically referring to farmers being forced to stop their business activities.

Wrong options:

• away: 'Away' implies distance and does not convey the idea of being forced to stop a business, making it contextually inappropriate.
• down: 'Down' suggests a decrease but does not fit the phrasal verb structure needed here, failing to convey the intended meaning of being forced out.
• across: 'Across' indicates movement from one side to another, which does not apply to the context of business operations and is grammatically incorrect in this usage.

Correct answer: began

Explanation: The word 'began' is the correct past tense form of the verb, fitting the context of the sentence that discusses a trend that started in the past. It aligns with the overall narrative about historical changes in the dairy industry.

Meaning: 'Began' means to start or commence, indicating that the downward trend in dairy farmers started at a specific point in time.

Wrong options:

• has begun: This present perfect form suggests an ongoing action rather than a completed past action, which does not fit the context of the sentence.
• beginning: This gerund form does not function as a verb in this context and fails to convey the action of starting the trend.
• to begin: This infinitive form does not fit grammatically as it does not indicate a completed action in the past.

Correct answer: longer

Explanation: The word 'longer' fits grammatically as it indicates a cessation of ability to compete, aligning with the comparative structure needed in this context. It suggests that the milkman could no longer compete due to market changes.

Meaning: 'Longer' refers to an extended duration, here implying that the milkman could not continue competing in the market.

Wrong options:

• better: 'Better' is a comparative adjective that does not fit the context of competition cessation and is grammatically incorrect here.
• further: 'Further' implies additional distance or extent, which does not apply to the context of competition and is not grammatically suitable.
• much: 'Much' is an adverb that does not fit the comparative structure needed in this context.

Correct answer: ever

Explanation: The word 'ever' is appropriate as it indicates the lowest price at any time in history, fitting the context of the sentence discussing current market conditions. It aligns with the superlative nature of the statement.

Meaning: 'Ever' means at any time in the past or future, emphasizing that the current price is the lowest recorded.

Wrong options:

• never: 'Never' indicates a lack of occurrence, which contradicts the context of discussing the current lowest price.
• soon: 'Soon' refers to a future time, which does not fit the context of discussing the present situation.
• then: 'Then' refers to a specific time in the past, which does not align with the current state of prices.

Correct answer: restricts

Explanation: The word 'restricts' is the correct present tense form that fits grammatically and contextually, indicating an ongoing action that limits milk production. It aligns with the structure of the sentence discussing the quota system.

Meaning: 'Restricts' means to limit or control the amount of something, in this case, the quantity of milk a farmer can produce.

Wrong options:

• restricting: This gerund form does not function as a verb in this context and fails to convey the necessary action.
• be restricted: This passive form does not fit the active voice required in this sentence structure.
• be restricting: This form is also passive and does not fit the grammatical structure needed for the sentence.