My broad hint that I had paid for the lessons myself brought smiles of ______________________ from all the judges at the piano recital.

She hesitated to offer her opinion, fearing that they would take _____________________ at her criticism.

The various community organizations formed a ____________ to lobby against parking laws.

An overworked parent may be unlikely to indulge the complaints of a _____________________ child.

If you take pride in expressing yourself with force and originality, you should not use so many ___________________ phrases.

Her eyes told me that more than a few well-chosen words would be needed to ___________________ her hurt feelings.

They try to "prove" the __________________ of modern youth by emphasizing everything that is bad and ignoring whatever is good.

My attempt to __________________ information over the phone was met with a barrage of irrelevant recordings.

Since I don't like people who play favorites in the office, I have frequently _______________________ against such behavior with my superiors.

The banjo, once thought to be a ___________________ product of the Southern hills actually came here from Africa.

Apparently mistaking us for the millionaire's children, the hotel manager overwhelmed us with his __________________ attentions.

Their tastes have been so _____________ by luxurious living that they seem incapable of enjoying the simple pleasures of life.

A great work of art may be said to __________________ time, and it is remembered for decades, or even centuries.

I truly dislike the kind of sensational popular biography that focuses solely on the more ________________ or scandalous aspects of a superstar's career.

She will __________________ in the dispute between the two children, and soon they will be playing happily again.

I was awakened not be a sudden sound but by a ______________ in the din of traffic.

I certainly appreciate your praise but I must say that I can see nothing so remarkably ___________________ in having done what any decent person would do.

Those lacking the facts or afraid of reprisals often tarnish an enemy's reputation by use of ___________________.

Some skilled actors can _______________ emotions they might never have felt in life.

I trust that we will have the will to improve what can now be improved and the patience to bear what cannot now be _______________________.

When the bridge suddenly collapsed in the high winds, the people on it at the time were ___________________ to their deaths in the watery abyss below.

"Long periods of intense boredom punctuated by short periods of intense fear" - in this famous definition a British general __________________ the nature of war.

We are all ready and willing to do what must be done; what we need is leadership - not ________________________.

Must we continue to listen to all this childish _____________?

A sour odor of decay, stale air, and generations of living _______________________ every corner of the old tenement.

She handled a potentially embarrassing situation with cool _________________.

His message may seem ______________________, but there is a solid framework of practical ideas underlying the rather pompous language.

In this situation we cannot act on the basis of what may be ________________, but only in accordance with what is definitely known.

In 1999 an argument raged over whether 2000 or 2001 would mark the beginning of the new ___________________.

It is easy to __________________ against "dirty politics," but less easy to play a positive role, however small, in the political process.

In stating that "All men are created equal and endowed.....with certain inalienable rights" the Declaration of Independence proclaims the _______________ value of every human being.

After years of fighting for social reforms, she experienced a sort of spiritual ________________________ that caused her to withdraw and let other people lead the struggle.

Do we need new laws to combat crime, or rather, more _______________ enforcement of the laws we already have?

The publisher will take prompt action against anyone who _______________ on the copyright of this book.

I can usually forgive a(n) ________________ display of feeble jokes and showing off - but not by someone who has passed his 40th birthday!

There is evidence that proves that many persons supposed to possess __________________ powers have either been clever frauds or the victims of self-deception.

After the unexpected defeat, the members of the team wanted to be alone and regarded anyone who entered the locker room as a(n) ________________________.

The song had a pleasant, __________________ melody that gained it quick popularity and then caused it be forgotten just as quickly.

Because I believe in spreading governmental powers among several officials, I am opposed to having the mayor serve as _________________ head of the Board of Education.

I was simply unable to follow the __________________ reasoning by which she "proved" that a straight line is not necessarily the shortest distance between two points.

Our military is prepared to deal with external aggression, but our best defense against _________________ at home is the loyalty of the American people

_____________________ is a noble human emotion, but in itself it is no substitute for vigorous efforts to help other people.

Since he has been able to _________________ almost anything he wants out of his parents, he is quite unprepared now to face the harsh realities of life.

An experienced politician always tries to avoid making ___________________ remarks that may offend some voters.

Although the queen is the __________________ head of state, the Prime Minister is the real leader of the British government.

_________________________ was such a common offense among Roman provincial governors that, when asked how they made their fortunes, most simply replies, "In the provinces."

His investments proved to be profitable, but they were __________________ rather than the result of knowledge and planning.

The Biblical prophets _____________________ idol worship of any kind and railed vehemently against such practices.

You are following an all too familiar pattern in ______________ your failures to anyone and everyone - except yourself.

Although that critic is feared for _________________ reviews, I have learned that there is usually a sound basis for her unfavorable judgments.

I learned that I would have to make a choice between my strong aversion to hard work and my equally strong ____________________ for eating.

After he had seen the error of his ways, the villain attempted to _________________ the dark deeds of his past by acts of kindness and mercy.

It is only in my fantasies that I display the _________________ associated with movie heroes who are "as cool as a cucumber."

Experienced lawyers know that the line between literal truth and slight but significant distortion of the facts is often a ________________ one.

With the deadline fast approaching, the local newspaper office was in a _________________ of last-minute activity and preparation.

They are conscientious objectors to military service because they are ________________ by a deep religious conviction not to take a human life.

When I spoke to Mother about going on the Easter trip to Washington, her only reply was a _______________ "We'll see."

Modern American society can justly be said to be the end point of the _______________ of diverse groups of immigrants.

The new computerized referral system will greatly _________________ the processing of customers' complaints.

The musical composition, with no melodic pattern and no well-defined structure of development, seemed ____________ to my ear.

The minister said that Cain's question, "Am I my brother's keeper?" has continued to ________________ through the ages.

What we really resent is not sensible criticism but nagging that is petty, peevish, and ________________.

Since he seems to have no moral standards whatsoever, it would probably be futile to _________________ with him about his outrageous behavior.

The language he used for his bitter attack on us was so ____________________ that I hesitate to even repeat it.

What a pleasure to talk about old times with so _____________ a companion!

The pitiful derelict's only protection against the elements was a cheap overcoat made out of some kind of ____________________ material that wouldn't keep the cold out in a heat wave.

The drops of dew sparkled like diamonds on the ___________________ threads of the spider web.

I tried to make some sense out of the strange orders he had given us, but his plan and purpose remained utterly _______________________.

Your _____________________ for spending more than you can afford will lead to only one result --- bankruptcy!

Throughout his career, the man has emphasized the __________________ of wealth and power at the expense of other values.

Am I to ________________ from your statement that there would be no point in further negotiations?

Lucy finally completed her _______________ term paper, in which she quoted from more than a hundred sources.

Carefully avoiding any attempt at originality, he has fashioned his style on __________________ mimicry of other, more talented writers.

On the Sabbath, the entire village is immersed in a(n) ____________________ of religious devotion that is difficult to convey to outsiders.

When we arrived home we were tired and depressed, but the _______________________ spirit of youth made things look brighter the next morning.

Our determination never to yield to force or the threat of force is firm and _______________.

We cannot bar foreign influences from our shores, and we cannot treat unfamiliar ideas as __________________!

To limit the free expression of unpopular ideas is to _____________________ the basic spirit of the Bill of Rights.

In an age when the world has become a "global village," we cannot afford leaders with _______________ outlooks.