While the City Sleeps

C2 Proficiency · 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.

Spare a thought (0) ___ the night-shift worker. While the rest of us sleep, nurses, cleaners, bakers and lorry drivers keep the world running, at no small cost (1) ___ their health. Humans are, after (2) ___ , creatures of daylight, and our bodies are (3) ___ no means designed to be alert at three in the morning. Long-term night workers run a higher risk of a whole host (4) ___ ailments, from digestive problems to heart disease, to (5) ___ nothing of the toll taken on family life. Those who work nights often find themselves out of step (6) ___ friends and relatives, sleeping when others are awake and awake when others are asleep. Such is the strain (7) ___ many abandon shift work within a few years. Employers can soften the blow: by keeping rotas predictable, providing proper meals and ensuring that staff get enough time off between shifts. Yet as long (8) ___ we expect shops, hospitals and transport to function round the clock, someone, somewhere will have to stay awake while the rest of us dream.

While the City Sleeps

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

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