1. The knife isn’t useful because its [   ] is dull.


2. The habit of doing extensive reading helps to lay the [   ] of children’s writing skills.


3. George suffered very serious brain [   ] in a car accident.


4. On the average, a healthy heart [   ] to pump five tablespoons of blood with every beat.


5. It is true that the surroundings will [   ] one’s work and studies.


6. Employees are required to follow the standard operating procedures and to act ____. 


7. Dr. Wilson, [   ] is the CEO of the company, will be here to give a speech at the opening ceremony next week.


8. A:Good morning, traveler’s check department. B:I’ve lost my traveler’s checks. I want to stop payment. A: [   ] Your name, please.


9. To see is    . 


10. Many college graduates fight their way into the renown and     companies for better career advancement. 


11. I’m not [   ] you! Our team has just won both the gold medal and the silver medal.


12. Jeff got a perfect score on the test; he [   ] diligently.


13. Mr. Johnson rarely gets upset in the office,    ? 


14. I had planned on going out last night, but [   ] prevented it.


15. If Judy [   ] so shy, she might have spoken to the man that she liked so much.


16. __ activity should be avoided after an operation. 


17. This contract is __ approval by both parties involved. 


18. There are two people in the office. One is John and [   ] is William.


19. Many journalists do not [   ] whether or not it is appropriate to interview a child during a tragic event for he/she is usually too young to understand the trauma he/she is involved in.


20. A student's frequent absence from school is often a clear [   ] of his problem in life and study.


21. By that time the theater was already [   ], so we had to buy tickets for the next day.


22. Before you fly, please be sure to read the list of items [   ] from being carried onto the plane. You must not bring any of these items to the security checkpoints.


23. A single bacteria, __ the right conditions, divides rapidly into colonies of billions in one day. 


24. Gorillas are [   ] the best communicators of all animals.


25. My mother always says we should think things through before [   ] anything.


26. We can always work toward improving our self-control, and, __, we can help others do the same. 


27. When we receive text messages of promotions from a company, we must be [   ] of possible false advertisement out of which the company wants to make profit.


28. You should always [   ] your opinions politely.


29. I don’t know [   ]. Why not call and ask him in person?


30. I was [   ] to find I did not have enough money to pay for the taxi fare. My face turned very red.


31. We are so glad that Miss Snow is teaching [   ] English.


32. A: You look awful. What’s wrong? B:I can’t sleep well these days. I still have nightmares about the car accident. It’s really scary to know that your life is still at risk even when you follow the traffic rules. A:I understand how you feel. All I can say is that [   ].


33. Janet put forward the proposal that the program __ until Mr. Brian Reynolds came back from abroad. 


34. In the [   ] of anyone better, we chose him as the leader.


35. A study shows that intelligence accounts for only 20 percent of the factors that determine success, [   ] EQ playing an important role in the remaining 80 percent.


36. After many years of moving, Daniel finally found a [   ] home in the Dublin suburbs.


37. A: Hey, do you have a minute? B: [   ]


38. A 5-year-old child was lost in the __. The forest made it hard to trace him down. 


39. [   ] are those who act in contradiction to their stated beliefs or feelings.


40. The mayor determined to build a [   ] city. By then, users can get access to the Internet at any time and any place in the city.


41. The [   ] of this scholarship will receive $30,000.


42. The production of bread mainly includes the [   ] such as flour, sugar and eggs.


43. Little kids begin learning their mother tongue by [   ] what they hear around them.


44. If Miss Chen works for another 5 years, she will be [   ] for a pension when she retires.


45. Although the farmers had to work in the mud, they were all pleased, [   ] the rain had come in the nick of time.


46. According to the health official, the rate of increasing number of cases is not beyond [   ] is expected and the symptoms of all the patients are mild.


47. The manager talks as if he     mad at you, but this is just the way he talks to everybody. 


48. The government hopes that the charge for trash disposal can [   ] people from throwing away usable resources.


49. Climbing unemployment rates and dropping job opportunities are huge __ to the new government. 


50. A fine will be     on the drivers who fail to pay their highway toll on time.