Multiple-choice cloze
For questions 1-8, read the text below and decide which answer (A, B, C or D) best fits each gap.
Every morning, whatever the weather, a small group of swimmers their way down to the harbour for a dip. The water rarely rises above twelve degrees, even in summer, and newcomers are often aback by how quickly the cold takes their breath away. Regulars insist that the initial shock off after a minute or two, and that the sense of well-being that follows is well the discomfort. Some go further, claiming that cold water has cured everything from insomnia to back pain, although such claims are best taken with a pinch of . Research into the health effects of cold-water swimming is still in its , and doctors stress that it carries real risks for people with heart conditions. Beginners are to enter the water slowly, never to swim alone, and to warm up gradually afterwards, since the body goes on cooling for some time after leaving the water, a known as 'afterdrop'.
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