You needn’t have apologized for your absence—      , it’s hardly your fault.

The questionnaire won’t take long, ___________ five to ten minutes.

—Can you lend me some money?—I’m short of money myself, but _____, I’ll give you some . 

Since I knew how hard the life they lead is, I have understood ____ they need so much money.

Interviews were carried out ________ over the telephone，via e－mail or fax or face to face in four cities including Beijing，Shanghai，Guangzhou and Wuhan.