OE

The trigger word comes at the very end of this sentence: Since the speaker indicates surprise, the second half of the sentence will contrast with the first, which says that conditions for apples were good. So you’re looking for words that indicate the apples are poor in some way, and both dearth and paucity indicate a lack or shortage. Surfeit and spate are also synonyms, but they have the opposite meaning: an abundance or excess. Neither countenance, which means the look on one’s face, nor amalgamation, which means combination, fits here. Choices (A) and (F) are the best answers.