You are given an English sentence with a blank, and you need to predict the missing word. After completing, the whole sentence should be gramatically correct and non-ambiguous.

Q: but no on reflection the procureur was not a merciless man and it was not the magistrate slave to his duties but the friend the loyal friend who roughly but firmly cut into ____ very core of the corruption

A: the
****
Q: debray could but give her advice she must apply to some one more powerful ____ he

A: than
****
Q: it does really seem as if i must be dreaming well i'm sorry for that poor young one and no mistake matthew ____ marilla don't know anything about children and they'll expect him to be wiser and steadier that his own grandfather

A:
and
****