The Drawer of Old Phones

C1 Advanced · Word Formation · Cambridge Ready original exercise

For questions 1–8, read the text below. Use the word given in capitals at the end of some of the lines to form a word that fits in the gap in the same line. There is an example at the beginning (0).

EASE

EXTRACT

CONSIDER

PUBLIC

UNDERSTAND

THOROUGH

NECESSARY

REPLACE

Almost every household has a drawer of old phones, chargers and cables that have lain (0) ___ for years. We keep them out of a vague sense that they might come in handy one day, or because we feel (1) ___ about throwing away something that still works. Yet these forgotten devices contain gold, copper and other metals whose (2) ___ from the ground causes considerable environmental damage. Recovering the same metals from discarded electronics is (3) ___ less harmful, which is why some experts describe old phones as an urban mine. The difficulty is that most of us have no idea where to take them. Many recycling centres accept electronics, but the service is rarely (4) ___ , and people are (5) ___ worried about the personal data stored on their devices. In fact, wiping a phone (6) ___ before handing it in takes only a few minutes. Manufacturers, meanwhile, have been criticised for designs that make repairs (7) ___ difficult, and so encourage the (8) ___ of phones that could have lasted for years.

The Drawer of Old Phones

USE

Available as a free printable PDF worksheet with an optional answer key.

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