David has gone to Australia on business.—Really? I ______ why he was absent from today’s meeting

____ we can’t get seems better than ____ we have.

You’ll sound a lot more polite if you make a request _______ a question

His efforts to raise money for his programme were _____ because no one showed any intention to take a cent out of their pockets.[ ]

Could I borrow your umbrella, please –_________.