1. I find these mathematical puzzles too ________ and prefer the more straightforward type.

2. Henry: Hello.Man's voice: Is that Mr. Henry Orpington, the parliamentary candidate?Henry: Yes, ________ .

3. When there is a danger of flooding, people often pile up sand ________ outside their houses to stop the water coming in.

4. Andrew: What did the man sound like? Did you recognize his voice?Henry: No, I was half asleep.His voice wasn't familiar but he sounded quite pleasant. He didn't seem to be ________ me.

5. The sound of the waterfall goes on all day and night and in the end the ________ noise gets on your nerves.

6. The strings on the puppet were all intertwined and it took us ages to ________ them.

7. Although it's a complicated subject the professor managed to make it all totally clear and ________ by her delivery.

8. You'll soon get used to his funny ways as it's one of the ________ of his personality.

9. He always follows that old ________ : early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.

10. It was no good. The line had gone .________ As calmly as he could Henry went upstairs to tell his wife the alarming news.