They had planned to go for a picnic, but because of the rain they had to stay home_______.

Running a company is not ______ a matter of hiring people---they also need to be trained.

 — Stress can be extremely harmful to your health. Exercise, ______, can reduce its bad effects.— I can’t agree more.

Day after day, they dragged their feet on and arrived at their destination ________. 

--- The earthquake last night was really terrible. --- ______, no people were injured or killed, and they escaped in time.