—Why weren’t you at the meeting?—I ________ for a long-distance call from my aunt in America.

—Will you attend the meeting this evening?—But I ________ told anything about it.

I feel sure I ________ her somewhere before. 

I left my pen on the desk and now it’s gone; who ________ it? 

You’d better not phone the manager between 7 and 8 tomorrow evening; he ________ an important meeting then. 

The discussion ________ alive when an interesting topic was brought in. 

—Has Sam finished his homework today?—I have no idea. He ________ it this morning. 

Because the shop ________ , all the T-shirts are sold at half price. 

—Didn’t the guard see him breaking into the bank?—No, he ________ in the other direction. 

The student didn’t pay any attention to the lecture; he ________ of something else. 

—What’s that terrible noise? —The neighbors ________ for a party. 

It is said in the book that Thomas Edison (1847—1931) ________ the world-leading inventor for sixty years. 

—You must have met him the other day. —Oh, no, I ________ . 

Why don’t you put the meat in the fridge? It will ________ fresh for several days. 

－The enemy spy was found at last. －Really? Where ________ himself? 

— I called you at ten, but there was no reply. —Oh, that was probably when I ________ a shower. 

—You were out when I dropped in at your house. —Oh, I ________ for a friend from England at the airport. 

－Oh, it’s you, Steve! I ________ you. －No surprising. I’ve just had my hair cut.

—Did you find the missing couple in the mountain yesterday?—No, but we ________ to get in touch with them ever since. 

—Did you enjoy your holiday?—Yes, it’s the best holiday I ________ these years.