she tried in vain to _____ to him the unfairness of the situation.

the owner is making huge profits at the expense ______ downtrodden peasants.

if the factory workers have met their quotas for the week, they can __________ early on friday afternoon.

we ________ a discussion with them about the differences between britain and the us.

you should not use any personal electronic __________, such as a cell phone, while driving.

the police were certainly ________ off the mark in reaching the scene of the accident.

this material absorbs the sound, and doesn't ________ it.

sometimes happiness is just a matter of attitude _______.

the caretaker is responsible for the _______ of the school buildings.

illegal hunting is threatening the ______ of the species.

tension mounts as temperatures ______ on one of the hottest days of the year.