31.   They suggest American officials prefer a weak dollar to make U.S. exports less expensive -- and therefore, more desirable -- to foreign shoppers.

32.   This is one reason Yankees officials prefer him to David Wells, whom they traded to Toronto with reliever Graeme Lloyd and infielder Homer Bush for Clemens.

33.   This position may prevail in the administration, although more moderate officials would prefer to see Washington simply renounce its own signature of the treaty.

34.   Throughout the Cold War, the issue was suppressed by the communist authorities in Prague, and German officials preferred to ignore it.

35.   Town officials prefer backyard rinks to ponds, especially since increasingly mild winters have made pond ice more dangerous.

36.   U.S. military officials would prefer to strike out as well at the organizations and functions that keep Saddam in power and suppress dissent.

37.   Torres indicated that most officials preferred that Condit not run in what could be a bruising primary, and that he simply not seek re-election.

38.   Traditionally in the industry, union and company officials prefer to deal with each other without outsiders.

39.   W. Mike Baggett, Cotton Bowl chairman, said the call went to Kansas State because Cotton officials prefer not to have the same team compete in consecutive contests.

40.   United officials might prefer a rival bid to such an investigation.