Start vs. Begin

I ......... my car to make sure it worked about ten minutes before I drove to work.
began
started
begin
start

My car very rarely ......... first time when the weather is really cold.
begins
beginning
starting
starts

We ......... off early on the first day of summer so that we could see the sun rise.
began
started
starting
beginning

I read the ......... of that book but I couldn't possibly read the whole story.
starting
start
beginning
begin

I can't ......... to understand why anyone would want to be cruel to animals.
start
begin
starts
begins

He ......... off at me again simply because I had forgotten to lock the back door after I came home.
started
began
begun
starts

I won a lot of money by betting on that horse but it was simply a case of ......... luck.
start's
starter's
beginner's
beginning's

As far as I was concerned when the accident happened, it was the ......... of the end.
start
begin
starting
beginning

Who would like to ......... off the debate?
begin
start
begins
starting

I would greatly appreciate it if you didn't ......... up that old argument again.
start
begin
starts
begins