1. The number of people invited  ______  fifty, but a number of them  _______  absent for different reasons.

2. E-mail, as well as telephones,  ________ an important part in daily communication.

3. ______  of the land in that district  ______  covered with trees and grass.

4.  Ten minutes  ______  a long time for one who waits.

5. Eric is the only one of the boys who  _____  a driving license.

6. Joy and Sorrow  _____  next-door neighbours.

7. In my opinion, some of the news  _____  unbelievable.

8. When  ______  the United Nations founded?

9. Every possible means  _____  .

10. What she says and does  _____  nothing to do with me.

11. There  _____  a dictionary and several books on the desk.

12. Nobody  ______  seen the film.  It's a pity.

13. No teacher and no student  ______．

14. All but one  ______ here just now.

15. When and where to build the new factory  _____  yet.

16. The writer and singer  ______  here.

17. As I have a meeting at four, ten minutes  _____ all that I can spare to talk with you.

18.  In those days John with his classmates  _____  kept busy preparing for the exam.

19. -- ____  your clothes?
       --No,  mine  _____ hanging over there.

20. The Smith's family, which  ____  rather a large one,  ____ very fond of their old houses.

21. What the teacher and the students want to say  _____ that either of the countries  ____ beautiful.

22. He is the only one of the students who  _____ a winner of scholarship for three years.

23. _____  of my brothers are reporters.  Covering events, meetings, or sports meetings  ______  their duty.

24. -- What do you think of the ______ of the coat?
        -- It's rather high.  You can buy a cheaper one in that shop.

25. -- Are the two answers correct?
        -- No,   ______  correct.

26. The wind, together with rain and fog,  _____  making sailing difficult.