Use context clues to determine the meaning of the word decline as it is used in the text. Write your definition of decline here, along with those words or phrases from the text that helped you determine its meaning. Then check a dictionary to confirm your understanding.
Context clues suggest that the word "decline" in the text means a decrease or reduction in something. The words and phrases that supported this understanding are "downward trend", "falling", and "lower than last year's figures." These phrases indicate a lowering or decrease in the mentioned statistics. The dictionary definition of "decline" aligns with this understanding, defining it as a gradual and continuous loss of strength, number, value, or quality.
