Russia's withdrawal of its experts from China did not strangle (压垮) the Chinese people; _____ it stirred up their enthusiasm for greater exertions.
He kept putting his dream to the test –even though it meant ____________ with uncertainty and fear of failure.
---Were you busy last weekend? ---Very. Rather than __________ time playing cards as usual, I devoted every effort to________ an advertisement.
He argued __________ smoking, and insisted that it was ____________ argument that smoking is harmful to health.
He had to do an extra job after work, for he had a big family to ___________.
26. He asked us to write an article in_____________ of pollution caused by the nearby factories.