The teacher was___ a very old man, but in fact he was only a little over fifty.

Sometimes parents’ control of young kids will be thought to be such an invisible rope, with which to tie them tightly, that they _____ tried to cut it.

Last year John earned________his brother did，who has a better position in a bigger company.

These　good　sare＿＿for　export，though　a　few　of　them　may　be　sold　on　the　home　market．

The train stopped ______ at lonely little stations, which resulted in a sleepless night.