Meaning: 'Grew' means to increase in size, number, or strength.

Wrong options:

• increase: The word 'increase' is a noun or verb in its base form, which does not fit the past tense structure required here.
• spent: 'Spent' is the past tense of 'spend,' which does not relate to the growth of sharkbite numbers and is contextually irrelevant.
• stabilized: 'Stabilized' is also a past tense verb but refers to a different action, specifically the stabilization of numbers, not their growth.
• thinned: 'Thinned' is a past tense verb that refers to a reduction, which does not apply to the context of growth.
• vague: 'Vague' is an adjective that describes something unclear or not specific, which does not fit the grammatical structure needed.

Correct answer: spent

Explanation: The word 'spent' is the past tense of 'spend,' which fits grammatically as it describes the action of humans spending time at the seashore. The context indicates a historical behavior pattern.

Meaning: 'Spent' means to have used time in a particular way, in this case, at the seashore.

Wrong options:

• grew: 'Grew' is a past tense verb that refers to an increase, which does not relate to the action of spending time.
• stabilized: 'Stabilized' is a past tense verb that refers to making something stable, which does not apply to the context of spending time.
• thinned: 'Thinned' is a past tense verb that refers to a reduction, which does not fit the context of time spent.
• increase: 'Increase' is a noun or verb in its base form, which does not fit the past tense structure required here.
• vague: 'Vague' is an adjective that does not relate to the action of spending time.

Correct answer: stabilized

Explanation: The word 'stabilized' is the past tense of 'stabilize,' which fits grammatically as it describes the action of sharkbite numbers becoming stable over time. The context indicates a recent trend in sharkbite statistics.

Meaning: 'Stabilized' means to make or become steady or stable.

Wrong options:

• grew: 'Grew' is a past tense verb that refers to an increase, which contradicts the idea of stabilization.
• spent: 'Spent' is the past tense of 'spend,' which does not relate to the stabilization of numbers.
• thinned: 'Thinned' is a past tense verb that refers to a reduction, which does not apply to the context of stabilization.
• increase: 'Increase' is a noun or verb in its base form, which does not fit the past tense structure required here.
• vague: 'Vague' is an adjective that does not relate to the action of stabilizing.

Correct answer: thinned

Explanation: The word 'thinned' is the past tense of 'thin,' which fits grammatically as it describes the reduction in the shark population. The context indicates that overfishing has led to this decrease.

Meaning: 'Thinned' means to reduce in density or number.

Wrong options:

• grew: 'Grew' is a past tense verb that refers to an increase, which contradicts the context of a reduction in population.
• spent: 'Spent' is the past tense of 'spend,' which does not relate to the action of thinning a population.
• stabilized: 'Stabilized' is a past tense verb that refers to making something stable, which does not apply to the context of thinning.
• increase: 'Increase' is a noun or verb in its base form, which does not fit the past tense structure required here.
• vague: 'Vague' is an adjective that does not relate to the action of thinning.