Tod ____ the teacher’s instruction, or he could not have won the first prize in the English Speech Contest. 

----- What is the price of petrol these days？-----Oh, it ______ sharply since last month. 

--If I come back in an hour, do you think the manager will see me?--I’m very sorry, sir, but he ____ a meeting then.

----- Have you heard about that fire in the market?----- Yes, luckily no one ______.

I called him many times, but I didn’t get through, maybe his mum _   on the phone all the time．