1. The quality of that new stock issue is a [?].
2. There's plenty of time to have a baby; I'm not past my [?] yet.
3. All these glossy pamphlets are just [?]--the fact is that the new mall will ruin the neighborhood.
4. Who will [?] when our grant money runs out?
5. A [?] can be used as a measure to discourage an unwanted takeover attempt.
6. He was working in a thicket of briar, elder and [?] from a fallen tree.
7. She's always [?] to the boss, telling him how wonderful he is.
8. You won't find someone to do that job [?].