Breathing During Sleep Reading Answers

Aug 12, 2025

Breathing During Sleep Reading Answers is an academic reading answers topic. Breathing During Sleep Reading Answers has a total of 13 IELTS questions, such as Match each statement with the correct condition or sleep stage, choose the correct letter A, B, C, or D. Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.

The IELTS Reading section is an essential part of the test that evaluates a candidate's comprehension and analysis of various passage types. You will work through a number of IELTS reading practice problems in this section that resemble actual test situations. These questions are designed to help you improve your ability to recognise essential concepts, extract particular facts, and make inferences. Practising these IELTS reading problems can help you get comfortable with the structure and increase your confidence for the exam, regardless of whether you are studying for the Academic or General Training module.

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Section 1

BREATHING DURING SLEEP

Breathing is an automatic process regulated by the brainstem, and during sleep, it continues subconsciously, allowing the body to rest and recover. However, sleep alters respiratory function in subtle yet significant ways. These changes can have implications for health, particularly in individuals with respiratory or neurological disorders.

During wakefulness, the brain actively monitors and adjusts breathing through various mechanisms. Sensory input from the body helps regulate respiratory rate and depth in response to carbon dioxide and oxygen levels. When a person falls asleep, this responsiveness diminishes. The body becomes less sensitive to carbon dioxide buildup, and the muscles

that support the airway lose some of their tone, making the airway more prone to collapse.

Sleep is divided into two main stages: Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep and non-REM sleep. Non-REM sleep is further divided into three stages, each characterized by increasing depth of sleep. During the deeper stages of non-REM sleep, breathing becomes slower and more regular, and metabolic rate decreases. In REM sleep, however, breathing becomes more erratic and shallow. This irregularity is due to the brain's heightened activity during REM, which resembles wakefulness in many ways.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a disorder that exemplifies the dangers of altered breathing during sleep. In individuals with OSA, the airway collapses repeatedly during sleep, temporarily stopping airflow. Each pause can last several seconds and may occur dozens or even hundreds of times per night. These interruptions cause micro-arousals — brief awakenings — which disrupt sleep architecture and prevent restorative rest. Common symptoms include loud snoring,

gasping during sleep, and excessive daytime sleepiness.

Risk factors for OSA include obesity, aging, and anatomical features such as a narrow airway or enlarged tonsils. While men are more commonly affected, post-menopausal women also show increased risk. The condition is typically diagnosed through a sleep study or polysomnography, where brain activity, oxygen levels, and breathing patterns are monitored overnight.

Central sleep apnea (CSA), in contrast, is less common and involves a failure of the brain to send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing. CSA is often associated with heart failure, stroke, or the use of certain medications like opioids. Unlike OSA, CSA is not caused by physical obstruction but by neurological dysregulation. Some patients exhibit a combination of both conditions, known as complex sleep apnea syndrome.

Treatment for sleep apnea varies depending on the type and severity. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) is the most common and effective treatment for OSA. The device keeps the airway open by delivering a steady stream of air through a mask. For CSA, treatment may involve managing the underlying condition or using adaptive servo-ventilation a machine that adjusts airflow based on detected breathing patterns.

Understanding how breathing changes during sleep has led to better diagnosis and treatment of sleep-related breathing disorders. Ongoing research continues to explore how sleep quality impacts respiratory health and overall well-being.

Questions 14-20

Match each statement with the correct condition or sleep stage.

Choose the correct letter A, B, C or D.

You may use any letter more than once.

LIST OF OPTIONS

A. REM sleep

B. Non-REM sleep

C. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

D. Central Sleep Apnea (CSA)

14. Breathing becomes irregular and shallow.

Answer: A

Supporting statement: In REM sleep, however, breathing becomes more erratic and shallow.

Keywords: REM sleep, erratic and shallow

Keyword Location: Para 3, Lines 4-5

Explanation: The passage directly states that breathing in REM sleep is erratic and shallow, which means irregular and shallow.

15. Occurs due to reduced muscle tone in the airway.

Answer: C

Supporting statement: When a person falls asleep, this responsiveness diminishes. The body becomes less sensitive to carbon dioxide buildup, and the muscles that support the airway lose some of their tone, making the airway more prone to collapse.

Keywords: muscles, collapse,

Keyword Location: Para 2, Lines 4-5

Explanation: The text explains that reduced muscle tone makes the airway prone to collapse, and this collapse is the defining characteristic of OSA.

16. Breathing slows and becomes more stable.

Answer: B

Supporting statement: During the deeper stages of non-REM sleep, breathing becomes slower and more regular, and metabolic rate decreases

Keywords: deeper stages, non-REM sleep, slower and more regular

Keyword Location: Para 3, Lines 3-4

Explanation: The passage states that during non-REM sleep, breathing becomes slower and more regular, which means slower and more stable.

17. Caused by a failure in brain signaling.

Answer: D

Supporting statement: Central sleep apnea (CSA), in contrast, is less common and involves a failure of the brain to send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing.

Keywords: Central sleep apnea, failure of the brain

Keyword Location: Para 6, Lines 1-2

Explanation: The passage states that CSA involves a failure of the brain to send proper signals.

18. Results in frequent interruptions during sleep.

Answer: C

Supporting statement: Each pause can last several seconds and may occur dozens or even hundreds of times per night. These interruptions cause micro-arousals — brief awakenings — which disrupt sleep architecture and prevent restorative rest.

Keywords: Each pause, dozens or even hundreds

Keyword Location: Para 4, Lines 3-4

Explanation: According to the passage, the description of dozens or even hundreds of times per night for airflow pauses in OSA indicates frequent interruptions.

19. Linked with factors such as aging and obesity.

Answer: C

Supporting statement: Risk factors for OSA include obesity, aging, and anatomical features such as a narrow airway or enlarged tonsils.

Keywords: Risk factors for OSA, obesity, aging

Keyword Location: Para 5, Line 1

Explanation: According to the passage, obesity, aging are risk factors for OSA.

20. More commonly affects people with heart problems or those using certain medications.

Answer: D

Supporting statement: CSA is often associated with heart failure, stroke, or the use of certain medications like opioids.

Keywords: CSA, heart failure, stroke

Keyword Location: Para 6, Lines 2-3

Explanation: The passage links CSA with heart failure and the use of certain medications like opioids.

Questions 21-26

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.

BREATHING DISORDERS DURING SLEEP

Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by the repeated 21………… of the airway, which stops airflow temporarily.

Answer: COLLAPSE

Supporting statement: In individuals with OSA, the airway collapses repeatedly during sleep, temporarily stopping airflow.

Keywords: airway collapses, repeatedly, sleep

Keyword Location: Para 4, Line 2

Explanation: The passage directly states that the airway collapses repeatedly in OSA.

These pauses in breathing lead to 22……….that disturb normal sleep.

Answer: MICRO-AROUSALS

Supporting statement: These interruptions cause micro-arousals — brief awakenings — which disrupt sleep architecture and prevent restorative rest.

Keywords: interruptions, micro-arousals, disrupt sleep

Keyword Location: Para 4, Lines 4-5

Explanation: The passage explains that the interruptions (pauses in breathing) "cause micro-arousals" that disrupt sleep.

OSA is more common in men but also affects 23………. women.

Answer: POST-MENOPAUSAL

Supporting statement: While men are more commonly affected, post-menopausal women also show increased risk.

Keywords: men, post-menopausal women

Keyword Location: Para 5, Line 2

Explanation: The passage specifies that post-menopausal women also show increased risk of OSA.

Central sleep apnea, on the other hand, occurs when the 24……….fails to signal the breathing muscles.

Answer: BRAIN

Supporting statement: Central sleep apnea (CSA), in contrast, is less common and involves a failure of the brain to send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing.

Keywords: CSA, failure of the brain, send proper signals

Keyword Location: Para 6, Lines 1-2

Explanation: The passage clearly states that CSA involves a failure of the brain to send proper signals.

In some people, both types occur simultaneously, which is known as 25……….. sleep apnea.

Answer: COMPLEX

Supporting statement: Some patients exhibit a combination of both conditions, known as complex sleep apnea syndrome.

Keywords: both conditions, complex sleep apnea syndrome

Keyword Location: Para 6, Line 5

Explanation: The passage names the combination of both types as complex sleep apnea syndrome.

One common treatment for OSA is the use of a 26…………machine to maintain airflow during sleep.

Answer: CPAP

Supporting statement: Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) is the most common and effective treatment for OSA. The device keeps the airway open by delivering a steady stream of air through a mask.

Keywords: CPAP, common and effective treatment

Keyword Location: Para 7, Line 2

Explanation: The passage identifies CPAP as the most common and effective treatment that keeps the airway open.

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