1. I have great ________ for them at this time because I have had a similar experience.

2. We don't really get on with the new boss but he has some good ideas so we must give the devil his ________ .

3. Although her boss knew that she was not telling the truth, her explanations for being late were always so reasonable and totally ________ that he believed her.

4. Some of Shakespeare's historical plays are rather long and so there are editions where they are ________ to make them shorter.

5. Many people have been made redundant in the takeover and those who joined last were the first to go. The principle of devil take the ________ applied.

6. It was possible to look up the topic on the Internet but she decided instead to ask her ________ father, who knew the answer to most things.

7. I have no wish to ________ these criminal activities but I do have some sympathy with the perpetrators.

8. Despite all the chaos around him the captain remained totally calm and assumed an air of ________ .

9. It's very hard trying to get the tenses right in English. In fact it's the ________ devil to know whether it's simple or continuous.

10. Although all the athletes were full of life at the start of the marathon, towards the end of the race a few were showing signs of tiredness and were clearly ________ .