Letting the Mind Wander
B2 First · 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.
Most of us spend a surprising amount of time daydreaming. We might be waiting (0) ___ a bus when our thoughts suddenly drift off to a sunny beach. Daydreaming was long seen as a waste of time, and children were constantly told to pay attention (1) ___ their teachers. Psychologists now take a different view. They believe that a wandering mind is capable (2) ___ solving problems that hard concentration cannot. Many people get their best ideas in the shower or on a long walk, when the brain is free to make connections (3) ___ it would otherwise miss. That is not to say that daydreaming is always helpful. People who feel low may find that their thoughts keep returning (4) ___ the same worries rather (5) ___ drifting towards pleasant plans. The key, experts suggest, is to notice where your mind goes. So instead (6) ___ reaching for your phone the moment you feel bored, why not let your thoughts wander, just (7) ___ a change? You might be surprised by what they come up (8) ___ .
Letting the Mind Wander
Available as a free printable PDF worksheet with an optional answer key.