Prices of food in that area ____ sharply since word came that the war would break out soon

The key word in the sentence has been ______, so it doesn’t make any sense to us.

He waited for ________ seemed like an hour before he finally got the ticket.[ ]

He found them _____ at a table ____ chess.

The expert _________ that there will be an earthquake in that area in the near future.[ ]