Problem: Continue the following story.

I had to write a speech for class and I was only allowed short time, but my speech was too long. The 
Here's how I want to continue it: speech was too long.

Problem: Continue the following story.

James cannot pick the box at the bottom of the barrel, so he picked the ball at the top because the 
Here's how I want to continue it: box is farther.

Problem: Continue the following story.

the shears I was using to prune the trees broke because the 
Here's how I want to continue it:
tree were too strong.