I just managed to（）a quick breath before I was pulled under the water by the passing boats.

Nobody knows how long and how seriously the shakiness（不穩(wěn)定） of big businesses will （） down the economy.

An explosion is a sudden increase in amount（）

After she became a lawyer, she decided to （）criminal law.

People appreciate（）with him because he has a good sense of humor.

I tried very hard to persuade him to join our group but I met with a flat（）

I could not persuade him to accept it,（）make him see the importance of it.

She couldn't（）laughing at him in those clothes.

I was（）than angry when I saw how they'd ruined the landscape.

He never（）to read the news but turned at once to the crossword puzzle on the last page.