I___there little more than a week when I set to work with the scientist.

Great efforts to increase agricultural production must be made if food shortage _____ avoided.

--- Did you tidy your room? --- No, I was going to tidy my room but I ______ visitors.

I know Mr. Shuili; we ______ to each other at an English lecture.

— Why on earth didn’t you answer the door? — I’m terribly sorry, but the telephone _______, too.