______, a man who expresses himself effectively is sure to succeed more rapidly than a man whose command of English is poor. 

I can’t fix my mind on my study, with the children ______ so noisily outside my window.

 ____, the amount left in the bank is hardly worth mentioning.

With everything she owned ______ in the fire, the woman had to turn to the local government for relief.

With Christmas ________, the children in my class are becoming more and more excited.