(AFA - 2009)The Reluctant LearnerMy friend Tom is

(AFA - 2009)

 

The Reluctant Learner

My friend Tom is one of those six-to-midnight, enthusiastic, determined, and well-mentioned studiers. At six o’clock he approaches his desk, and carefully organizes everything in preparation for the study period to follow. Having everything in place, he next carefully adjusts each item again, giving him time to think up the first excuse; he recalls that in the morning he did not have quite enough time to read all the [8] items of interest in the newspaper. He also realizes [9] distractions completely out of the way before setting down to the task at hand. [10]

(Skyline 5 – Macmillan)

“He also realizes that if he is going to study it is better to have such distractions completely out of the way before setting down to the task at hand.” (lines 8, 9 and 10) The underlined word can be replaced by