[Q]: How does the sentence end?

Ryan smelled the smoke before Joseph did because

[A]: Ryan was sitting closer to the fire.

[Q]: How does the sentence end?

Barb wanted to not think of the past so she started playing a video game but the

[A]: past was too painful.

[Q]: How does the sentence end?

Maria asked Tanya if a tooth infection was very painful because

[A]:
Maria never had a toothache.