The assembly speaker may have been boring, but that was no excuse for the students' __________ behavior toward him.

I have always regarded our colleges and universities as ____________ of learning and bastions against ignorance and superstitions.

The fact that he was found guilty of a felony many years ago doesn't __________ his running for mayor.

When I fumbled the ball on the three-yard line, the __________ of the crowd suddenly turned into jeers and catcalls.

I refuse to accept the excuse that the pressure of the new job caused you to ___________ to your old habit of smoking cigarettes.

After the operation, we sat in the hospital lounge, keeping a nightlight __________ until we heard from the doctor.

For weeks an anxious world ___________ between war and peace as diplomats desperately struggled to resolve the crisis.

Every time he quotes an old __________, he looks as though he has just had a brilliant idea.

She raised so many objections to attending the dance that it was obvious she was __________ for an excuse not to go.

In his eagerness to make a deal, the car salesman was __________ in his attempt to please the potential buyers.

There are times when we all need to be _________ away from old, familiar ideas that may no longer be as true as they once seemed.

The principal was quick to approve new programs for our club, but _____________ in providing actual financial support for them.

The little club that they set up to talk over community problems ____________ over the years into a national politician organization.

The "broken-down old furniture" that the woman left her children turned out to be a ____________ of valuable antiques.

The committee found it impossible to reach any agreement on the matter because the views of its members were so ____________.

After I had broken curfew for the fifth time in one week, my angry parents ____________ that I was grounded for the rest of the semester.

As we searched through the ____________ after the earthquake, it was heartbreaking to find articles such as toys.

From hundreds of newspaper items, the lawyer carefully ___________ three short paragraphs that supported his case.

The case dragged on for months because the lawyers had to ___________ over every minor detail.