—Why did John ask me about the problem?—________，he tried to find a better way to settle it.

Water can absorb and give off a lot of heat without big changes in temperature , thus creating a        environment .

Though the long-distance runner ______ his previous record last month, his trainer let him ______  its speed as he went around the curve.．

Her work is often very hard and she gets very tired. The work is _____.

China won 100 medals in the Beijing Olympic Games, which is almost _____they won at the Sydney Olympic Games.