阅读下面句子，在空白处填入适当的内容(每空一词)。
【小题1】There has been a great increase in _______(农业的)productivity.
【小题2】The letter was not addressed to me but I opened it out of _______(好奇).
【小题3】She doesn' t know how to _______(表现得体)in public.
【小题4】Although I have _______(使信服)him of my honesty, I think he still has some doubts.
【小题5】The competition attracted over 500 athletes _______(代表)eight different countries.
【小题6】I _______(宁愿)have the small one than the big one.
【小题7】Without a warning, the electricity was _______(切断)this morning, which made him very upset.
【小题8】His illness can _______(解释)his not being here today.