Creatures of Habit

C1 Advanced · Open Cloze · Cambridge Ready original exercise

For questions 1–8, read the text below and think of the word which best fits each gap. Use only one word in each gap. There is an example at the beginning.

Many people find the idea of doing the same thing every day deeply unappealing, associating routine (0) ___ boredom. Yet there is a good deal to be said (1) ___ a predictable day. Some psychologists argue that every decision we make, however trivial, uses up a little mental energy, so people (2) ___ breakfast, clothes and route to work are settled in advance have more left over for the choices that really matter. Routine also offers stability when life has been turned upside (3) ___ . People coping (4) ___ illness or loss often cling to the smallest daily rituals, such as making the bed or walking the dog, in an attempt to keep chaos at (5) ___ . Of course, routine can be taken too far. A life in (6) ___ nothing unexpected ever happens soon becomes stale. The trick is to strike a balance (7) ___ the predictable and the new, putting the dull tasks on autopilot (8) ___ as to leave room for the occasional adventure.

Creatures of Habit

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