单项选择题

Private enterprise is the thing. We went to a party on the river earlier this summer. The host (31) is old enough to know better, served a lunch made with his home-made wine. As I was driving, I was (32) to decline, but my wife politely took a glass and subsequently fell upstairs. The wound (33) weekly dressing by the district nurse, a talkative soul who enjoyed the social (34) of her work. She stayed for most of the afternoon, admiring things and gossiping about village life. At about the (35) time I called in the regional crime officer, to advise me on how to make the house reasonably secure against the child criminals who commit most of the (36) in these parts. He, (37) , was a companionable soul and made an afternoon of it.
And why is it that when I write to a public utility (38) as the gas board. I get a printed card to tell they received my letter and will shortly act on it The money spent on printing, typing, filling in and stamping these cards (39) add up to a very large sum indeed, when spread over all these industries. No commercial house sends such acknowledgements. Money, (40) it reaches a public service, loses the value that was stamped on it by the trouble to get it.