Sleep Apnea Reading Answers

Nov 29, 2023

Sleep Apnea Reading Answers has 14 questions that are to be answered in 40 minutes. IELTS topic-Sleep Apnea Reading Answers deals with sleep apnea, a common disorder. Sleep Apnea IELTS reading question type has two kinds of questions. That is choosing the correct answer, and identifying whether a statement can correspond to the passage. Candidates need to skim through the passage for the best answer. Sleep Apnea Reading Answers help students to prepare for IELTS exams.They can also refer to IELTS Reading practice papers.

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Section 1

Read the Passage to Answer the Following Questions

Sleep Apnea Reading Answers

Sleep apnea is a common sleeping disorder. It affects a number of adults comparable to the percentage of the population that suffers from diabetes. The term apnea is of Greek origin and means “without breath.” Sufferers of sleep apnea stop breathing repeatedly while they sleep. This can happen hundreds of times during the night, each gasp lasting from 10 to 30 seconds. In extreme cases, people stop breathing for more than a minute at a time.

There are three different types of sleep apnea, with obstructive sleep apnea being the most common. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which affects 90 percent of sleep apnea sufferers, occurs because of an upper airway obstruction. A person’s breathing stops when air is somehow prevented from entering the trachea. The most common sites for air to get trapped include the nasal passage, the tongue, the tonsils, and the uvula. Fatty tissue or tightened muscles at the back of a throat can also cause the obstruction. Central sleep apnea has a different root cause, though the consequences are the same. In central sleep apnea, the brain forgets to send the signal that tells the muscles that it’s time to breathe. The term central is used because this type of apnea is related to the central nervous system rather than the blocked airflow. The third type of sleep apnea, known as mixed apnea, is a combination of the two and is the most rare form. Fortunately, in all types of apnea, the brain eventually signals for a person to wake up so that breathing can resume. However, this continuous pattern of interrupted sleep is hard on the body and results in very little rest.

Sleep apnea is associated with a number of risk factors, including being overweight, male, and over the age of forty. However, like many disorders, sleep apnea can affect children and in many cases is found to be the result of a person’s genetic makeup. Despite being so widespread, this disorder often goes undiagnosed. Many people experience symptoms for their whole lives without realizing they have a serious sleep disorder. Oftentimes, it is not the person suffering from sleep apnea who notices the repetitive episodes of sleep interruption, but a partner or family member sleeping nearby. The air cessation is generally accompanied by heavy snoring, loud enough to rouse others from sleep. Those who live alone are less likely to receive early diagnosis, though other symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, irritability, and exhaustion may cause a person to seek medical advice. If left untreated, sleep apnea, which is a progressive disorder, can cause cardiovascular problems, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke. Sleep apnea is also blamed for many cases of impaired driving and poor job performance.

In order to diagnose sleep apnea, patients are generally sent to a sleep center for a polysomnography test. This test monitors brain waves, muscle tension, breathing, eye movement, and oxygen in the blood. Audio monitoring for snoring, gasping, and episodic waking is also done during a polysomnogram. Nonintrusive solutions for treating sleep apnea involve simple lifestyle changes. In many cases, symptoms of sleep apnea can be eliminated when patients try losing weight or abstaining from alcohol. People who sleep on their backs or stomachs often find that their symptoms disappear if they try sleeping on their sides. Sleep specialists also claim that sleeping pills interfere with the natural performance of the throat and mouth muscles and suggest patients do away with all sleep medication for a trial period. When these treatments prove unsuccessful, sleep apnea sufferers can be fitted with a CPAP mask, which is worn at night over the mouth and nose, similar to an oxygen mask. CPAP stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure.

In extreme cases, especially when facial deformities are the cause of the sleep apnea, surgery is needed to make a clear passage for the air. Many different types of surgeries are available. The most common form of surgery used to combat sleep apnea is uvulo-palato- pharyngoplasty (UPPP). This procedure involves removing the uvula and the excess tissue around it. UPPP helps about 50 percent of patients who undergo the procedure, while the other half continue to rely on the CPAP machine even after the surgery. Another type of surgery called mandibular myotomy involves removing a piece of the jaw, and adjusting the tongue. By reattaching1 the tongue to a position about ten millimeters forward, air is able to flow more freely during sleep. This delicate procedure is performed only by surgeons with expertise in facial surgery and is almost always successful in eliminating the air obstruction. The latest surgical procedures use radio frequencies to shrink the tissue around the tongue, throat, and soft palate.

Section 2

Solutions and explanations

Questions 14-18

The passage describes three different types of sleep apnea. Which of the characteristics below belongs to which type of sleep apnea? In boxes 14-18 on your Answer Sheet, write

A if it is a characteristic of obstructive sleep apnea.
B if it is a characteristic of central sleep apnea.
C if it is a characteristic of mixed apnea.

Its root cause is a blockage at the trachea.

Answer: A if it is a characteristic of obstructive sleep apnea.
Supporting Sentence: A person’s breathing stops when air is somehow prevented from entering the trachea.
Keywords: air, prevented, entering the trachea.
Keyword Location: Paragraph 2, lines 3-4
Explanation: According to the second paragraph, 90% of people with sleep apnea experience obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which is caused by an obstruction of the upper airway. When air is somehow prevented from entering the trachea, breathing stops in a person. Therefore option-A is the answer.

It is connected exclusively with the nervous system.

Answer: B if it is a characteristic of central sleep apnea.
Supporting Sentence :The term central is used because this type of apnea is related to the central nervous system rather than the blocked airflow.
Keywords: related to , central nervous system
Keyword Location: Paragraph 2, lines 8-10
Explanation: The second paragraph states that the brain fails to send the signal telling the muscles that it is time to breathe during central sleep apnea. As opposed to blocked airflow, this type of apnea is associated with the central nervous system, hence the term "central." Therefore option-B is the answer.

It involves blocked airflow and a brain malfunction.

Answer: C if it is a characteristic of mixed apnea.
Supporting Sentence: The third type of sleep apnea, known as mixed apnea, is a combination of the two and is the most rare form.
Keywords: known as mixed apnea, combination of the two
Keyword Location: Paragraph 2, lines 11—12
Explanation: The most uncommon form of sleep apnea is the third variety, also referred to as mixed apnea, which combines the two. Fortunately, the brain eventually sends a signal for someone to wake up so that breathing can resume in all types of apnea. However, the body struggles and gets very little rest from this pattern of irregular sleep. Therefore option-C is the answer.

It is the most unusual type of sleep apnea.

Answer: C if it is a characteristic of mixed apnea.
Supporting Sentence: The third type of sleep apnea, known as mixed apnea, is a combination of the two and is the most rare form.
Keywords: mixed apnea, most rare form.
Keyword Location: Paragraph 2, lines 11—12
Explanation: The second paragraph states that The most uncommon form of sleep apnea is the third variety, also referred to as mixed apnea, which combines the two. Therefore option-C is the answer.

It is the most common form of sleep apnea.

Answer: A if it is a characteristic of obstructive sleep apnea.
Supporting Sentence: There are three different types of sleep apnea, with obstructive sleep apnea being the most common.
Keywords: obstructive sleep apnea, the most common.
Keyword Location: Paragraph 2, line 1
Explanation: The second paragraph state that obstructive sleep is the most common one. Therefore option-A is the answer.

Questions 19-23

Do the following statements agree with the information in Reading Passage 2? Inboxes 19-23 on your Answer Sheet, write

TRUE if the statement is true according to the passage.
FALSE if the statement contradicts the passage.
NOT GIVEN if there is no information about this in the passage.

Sleep apnea only affects men over 40.

Answer: FALSE
Supporting Sentence: However, like many disorders, sleep apnea can affect children
Keywords: sleep apnea, affect children
Keyword Location: Paragraph 3, line 2
Explanation: The third paragraph clearly states that sleep apnea can affect children too. Therefore the given statement is false as it has wrong information.

Most people with sleep apnea have the problem diagnosed.

Answer: FALSE
Supporting Sentence: Despite being so widespread, this disorder often goes undiagnosed.
Keywords: disorder, goes undiagnosed
Keyword Location: Paragraph 3, lines 3-4
Explanation: The third paragraph clearly states that this disorder does not get diagnosed often. Sometimes people do not even recognize they have this. Therefore the given statement is false as it has wrong information.

Often a relative of the sleep apnea sufferer is the first to notice the problem.

Answer: TRUE
Supporting Sentence: Oftentimes, it is not the person suffering from sleep apnea who notices the repetitive episodes of sleep interruption, but a partner or family member sleeping nearby
Keywords: who notices, episodes of sleep interruption, family member
Keyword Location: Paragraph 3, lines 6-8
Explanation: According to the third paragraph, a partner or family member who is also sleeping nearby frequently notices the recurrent episodes of sleep interruption. They notice this rather than the person with sleep apnea. Therefore the given statement can correspond to the passage and so it is true.

Sleep apnea is more common in Greece than in other countries.

Answer: NOT GIVEN
Explanation: The given statement has information that was not disclosed in the passage.

Sleep apnea can cause problems at work.

Answer: TRUE
Supporting Sentence: Sleep apnea is also blamed for many cases of impaired driving and poor job performance.
Keywords: Sleep apnea, poor job performance
Keyword Location: Paragraph 3, last line
Explanation: The third paragraph states that sometimes poor job performance can be a result of sleep apnea meaning this disorder can cause problems at work. Therefore the given statement can correspond to the passage and so it is true.

Questions 24-27

Which treatments for sleep apnea are mentioned in the passage?
Choose four answers from the list below, and write the correct letters, A-G, in boxes 1-4 on your Answer Sheet.

A getting surgery

B wearing a mask

C taking sleeping pills

D reducing one’s weight

E massaging the throat muscles

F sleeping on one’s side

G drinking moderate amounts of alcohol

Question: 24.

Answer: A getting surgery
Supporting Sentence: In extreme cases, especially when facial deformities are the cause of the sleep apnea, surgery is needed to make a clear passage for the air
Keywords: surgery is needed
Keyword Location: Last paragraph, first two lines
Explanation: The passage does mention that surgery might be needed to treat sleep apnea.

Question: 25.

Answer: B wearing a mask
Supporting Sentence: When these treatments prove unsuccessful, sleep apnea sufferers can be fitted with a CPAP mask,
Keywords: sleep apnea sufferers, fitted with a CPAP mask,
Keyword Location: Paragraph 4, lines 10-11
Explanation: The passage does state that when some treatments does not diagnose sleep apnea, a CPAP mask is fitted for further treatment.

Question: 26.

Answer: D reducing one’s weight
Supporting Sentence :In many cases, symptoms of sleep apnea can be eliminated when patients try losing weight or abstaining from alcohol.
Keywords: sleep apnea, eliminated, losing weight
Keyword Location: Paragraph 5, lines 5-6
Explanation: The passage does state that reducing weight can help oneself to get rid of sleep apnea sometimes.

Question: 27.

Answer: F sleeping on one’s side
Supporting Sentence: People who sleep on their backs or stomachs often find that their symptoms disappear if they try sleeping on their sides.
Keywords: symptoms disappear, sleeping on their sides
Keyword Location: Paragraph 5, lines 6-7
Explanation: The passage does state that sometimes sleeping on one side may help people to make their symptoms disappear.