Use of English

A Weekend Without Screens

When my friends suggested a weekend retreat with no internet, I assumed it would be a pleasant novelty. In (0) FACT, it turned out to be far more challenging than I’d expected. The organiser asked us to hand in our phones on arrival, which immediately (1) .......... a ripple of anxiety through the group. A few people tried to laugh it off, but their jokes sounded forced, as if they were (2) .......... time. With no notifications to check, we had to (3) .......... ourselves with simple activities: cooking together, walking in the woods and, surprisingly, talking for hours. At first, conversation felt awkward; without the usual online references, we had to (4) .......... on our own experiences. Yet by the second day, something shifted. People became more attentive, and even the quietest participants started to (5) .......... up. The real test came in the evening, when boredom threatened to (6) .......... in. Instead of reaching for a screen, we played cards and listened to someone read aloud. It wasn’t dramatic, but it was oddly satisfying. By the time we collected our phones, I realised I’d been (7) .......... how much mental space constant connectivity takes up. I’m not about to delete every app, but I do intend to (8) .......... back more often.