Sheldon could have defeated Howard in the match, but he _______ too careless at the last minute. 

 Lacking rain, many river in Yunnan province have ______ recently.

Linda’s parents died when she was a baby, and she was _________by her aunt.

—Did you sleep well last night? — No, the loud noise from the street ______ me awake for hours.

Billy kept asking his mother whether he could go to the movies and she          at last.