71.   Investors snatched up shares of drug and food companies that do well as the economy slows.

72.   Investors snatched up the shares betting that local companies would beat long-distance companies in expanding their services.

73.   Investors, constructive on the company and the health of the economy, snatched up the bonds.

74.   It was not snatched up right away.

75.   It was the week before Christmas, and all through North America consumers were snatching up Apple Macintosh computers as fast as Apple could make them.

76.   Lois snatched up the phone when it rang again.

77.   Many package-tour operators snatch up exchange-rate gains to increase their profits rather than pass them on to customers.

78.   More recently, vultures last year snatched up the bonds of NorthPoint Communications, a high-speed Internet service provider that Verizon Communications had offered to buy.

79.   Nonprofit organizations are snatching up automotive albatrosses, a fund-raising trend that has generated hundreds of thousands of dollars for charities.

80.   Nevertheless, those with the skills and deep pockets to navigate the bureaucratic process are snatching up what land is available.