Part 3 · Word formation

Rewilding – the idea of allowing nature to restore itself with minimal human (1) ______ (INTERVENE) – has gained considerable (2) ______ (POPULAR) in recent years. Its supporters argue that by reintroducing species such as beavers and wild boar, and then largely leaving the land alone, we can reverse decades of damage and create landscapes that are far richer in wildlife.

The approach is not without its (3) ______ (CRITIC), however. Farmers, in particular, fear that predators could pose a threat to their livestock, and some worry that countryside which has been carefully managed for centuries will become (4) ______ (RECOGNISE) if it is simply allowed to grow wild. Others question whether projects that have succeeded in one region are necessarily (5) ______ (TRANSFER) to another with a different climate.

Even so, the early results have been (6) ______ (DENY) impressive. Where beavers have returned, their dams have reduced flooding in villages (7) ______ (STREAM) and created wetlands that support a remarkable (8) ______ (DIVERSE) of plants, birds and insects.

For most of human history, a clear night revealed thousands of stars. Today, however, the glow from street lamps, offices and advertising screens has made the Milky Way (1) ______ (VISIBLE) to a large proportion of the world's population. In many cities, children now grow up without ever having seen it.

Light pollution is often dismissed as a minor (2) ______ (ANNOY), but scientists warn that its effects are both serious and (3) ______ (WIDE). Artificial light at night confuses nocturnal animals and interferes with the (4) ______ (PRODUCE) cycles of many insects. Research has also linked (5) ______ (EXPOSE) to bright light late in the evening with poor sleep in humans.

The good news is that, unlike many forms of pollution, light pollution is entirely (6) ______ (REVERSE). Switching off (7) ______ (NECESSARY) lights and pointing lamps downwards rather than into the sky can make a dramatic difference, and in several towns that have made such changes, the results have been highly (8) ______ (COURAGE), with residents reporting that they can once again pick out familiar constellations from their own back gardens.

In a culture that celebrates success, failure is often treated as something (1) ______ (SHAME), to be hidden from colleagues and quickly forgotten. Yet a growing number of organisations are coming to the conclusion that this attitude is deeply (2) ______ (PRODUCE).

Some companies now hold regular meetings at which staff describe projects that went wrong. The aim is not to humiliate anyone, but to identify the (3) ______ (SHORT) in planning that led to the problem and to make sure they are not repeated. Managers who have introduced the practice say it has had a (4) ______ (NOTICE) effect on morale, as employees no longer feel the need to cover up their mistakes.

Psychologists have long warned that the fear of failure can be (5) ______ (PARALYSE). People who are terrified of getting things wrong tend to avoid challenges altogether, and as a result miss out on valuable (6) ______ (OPPORTUNE) to develop their skills. By contrast, those who see setbacks as temporary are generally more (7) ______ (RESILIENCE) and, perhaps (8) ______ (IRONY), tend to fail less often in the long run.