Most beginners don't comb the strings, then the sound quality worsens quickly.

Without more generous and coordinated assistance from Washington, the quality of urban life will worsen.

As a result of willy-nilly expansion, the quality of major league pitching worsened in the 1990's, another boon to home-run madness.

When environmental quality worsens in a region, tensions can occur, which can lead to conflict.

The quality of the Guarapiranga reservoir has worsened despite the implementation of the Guarapiranga pollution control program in 1992.

The Natural Resources Defense Council, a Washington-based conservation lobby, predicts that unless current trends are reversed, the quality of city air will worsen substantially in the 1990's.

Today, the quiet atmosphere at the project belies its fiery beginnings, although some residents say the quality of life has worsened.

"The quality of loans has worsened because land prices have continued to fall and credit ratings have also fallen unexpectedly," he said.

The study was not conducted during periods of particular crisis in each of the three countries, when the quality of donations might worsen, Mr. Reich said.

Strikes are frequent - in recent weeks, telephone, railroad and postal services have at different times been paralyzed - and the quality of services has worsened.