The Vanishing Night

C2 Proficiency · Multiple Choice Cloze · Cambridge Ready original exercise

For questions 1–8, read the text below and decide which answer (A, B, C or D) best fits each gap. There is an example at the beginning.

except

save

but

besides

lift

raise

rouse

hoist

ways

accounts

chance

means

lured

charmed

flattered

courted

aim

head

lead

point

cast

hurled

flung

thrown

inverted

overturned

reversed

converted

purpose

intent

design

motive

For most of human history, the Milky Way was a (0) ___ sight on any clear night. Today it has all (1) ___ disappeared for anyone living in or near a city, hidden behind an orange glow that spills upwards from streetlamps, car parks and illuminated advertising. Astronomers were the first to (2) ___ the alarm, but they are by no (3) ___ the only losers. Migrating birds are (4) ___ off course by brightly lit buildings, newly hatched turtles (5) ___ inland instead of towards the sea, and the daily rhythms of countless creatures, ourselves included, are (6) ___ out of kilter. Unlike most forms of pollution, however, this one could be (7) ___ almost overnight. It leaves nothing behind in the soil or the water, and the remedies are neither complicated nor expensive. Lamps shielded so that they point downwards, together with a willingness to switch off lights that serve no (8) ___ , would go a long way towards giving us back the stars.

The Vanishing Night

intimate

familiar

accustomed

habitual

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

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