Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank.

Food was ______; guides were not to be found, and the enemy dogged them all the way.

scarce

The most appropriate option to fill in the blank is scarce.

The word scarce means not plentiful or abundant. In this case, the sentence is saying that food was scarce; guides were not to be found, and the enemy dogged them all the way. This means that food was not available in large quantities, and it was difficult to find.

The other options are not correct.

• Crass means coarse or insensitive. It cannot be used in this sentence because it does not describe the availability of food.
• Chance means a possibility or opportunity. It cannot be used in this sentence because it does not describe the availability of food.
• Farce means a ridiculous or absurd situation. It cannot be used in this sentence because it does not describe the availability of food.