In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank.

As a rule, you see, I'm not lugged into family rows. On the occasions when Aunt is calling Aunt like mastodons bellowing (1) ________ primeval swamps and Uncle James's letter about Cousin Mabel's peculiar behaviour is being shot (2) ________ the family circle ('Please read this carefully and send it on Jane') the clan has a tendency (3) ________ ignore me. It's one of the advantages I get from (4) ________ a bachelor and, according to my nearest and dearest, practically a half-witted bachelor (5) ________ that.