Too Long in the Chair

B2 First · 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).

INCREASE

CIRCULATE

ILL

ADJUST

IMPORTANCE

NOTICE

MEET

EXCEL

Many office workers spend (0) ___ the whole day sitting down, first at a desk and then in front of the television. Doctors are (1) ___ worried about the effects. Long periods without movement can lead to back pain and poor (2) ___ , and over many years they may even raise the risk of serious (3) ___ . Some companies have responded by buying desks whose height is (4) ___ , so that staff can stand for part of the day. However, standing still for hours brings its own problems, and experts say that the most (5) ___ thing is simply to keep changing position. A short walk every half an hour, even just to fetch a glass of water, makes a (6) ___ difference to how people feel by the end of the day. Taking the stairs instead of the lift and holding (7) ___ while walking rather than sitting round a table are also (8) ___ habits, and they cost nothing at all.

Too Long in the Chair

PRACTICE

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

More B2 First Word Formation practice · All B2 First practice