What does the phrase "a fraction of the cost" really mean?

[Eelat]

Business English Lesson, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #473 "The Secondary Debt Market", question 1

"With the credit ......... likely to grow worse before it gets better, what are commercial banks doing in the face of this problem?" asks Kingsley Greenland of DebtX.

(a) crash
(b) crunch
(c) crush
(d) crutch

Business English Lesson, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #473 "The Secondary Debt Market", answer 1

"With the credit crunch likely to grow worse before it gets better, what are commercial banks doing in the face of this problem?" asks Kingsley Greenland of DebtX.

Correct answer: (b) crunch
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What does the phrase " a fraction of the cost " really mean?

Eelat

[Mister Micawber]

Very inexpensive; a very small percent of the usual/expected cost.
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Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's