In the bubble years, lending standards slipped ______,allowing   many people to put far too much of their income into paying for their housing.

Interviews were carried out ________ over the telephone，via e－mail or fax or face to face in four cities including Beijing，Shanghai，Guangzhou and Wuhan.

 I’d like to start my own business next year – that’s _________ I will face my big challenge in life.

—I heard Charlotte had been drowned in the lake.—Really！Her boat turned______,and ______she couldn’t swim.

The new machine, as is reported in the local newspaper, will work twice as fast, _____ greatly reducing costs.