The Lack of Sleep - IELTS General Reading Sample With Explanation
Through a passage and questions, the IELTS Reading section assesses a candidates' reading ability. Candidates must respond to 40 questions, each with a distinct sort of inquiry. The reading component of the IELTS assesses candidates' comprehension abilities through a variety of assignment types. There are two sorts of questions in this IELTS Reading sample - The Lack of Sleep:
- Matching Heading
- Identifying Information
Candidates can prepare from different sources of IELTS reading practice papers.
The Lack of Sleep IELTS Reading Sample
| Section A It is estimated that the average man or woman needs between seven-and-a-half and eight hours' sleep a night. Some can manage on a lot less. Baroness Thatcher, for example, was reported to be able to get by on four hours' sleep a night when she was Prime Minister of Britain. Dr Jill Wilkinson, senior lecturer in psychology at Surrey University and co-author of 'Psychology in Counselling and Therapeutic Practice', states that healthy individuals sleeping less than five hours or even as little as two hours in every 24 hours are rare, but represent a sizeable minority. Section B The latest beliefs are that the main purposes of sleep are to enable the body to rest and replenish, allowing time for repairs to take place and for tissue to be regenerated. One supporting piece of evidence for this rest-and¬repair theory is that production of the growth hormone somatotropin, which helps tissue to regenerate, peaks while we are asleep. Lack of sleep, however, can compromise the immune system, muddle thinking, cause depression, promote anxiety and encourage irritability. Section C Researchers in San Diego deprived a group of men of sleep between Sam and lam on just one night, and found that levels of their bodies' natural defences against viral infections had fallen significantly when measured the following morning. 'Sleep is essential for our physical and emotional well-being and there are few aspects of daily living that are not disrupted by the lack of it', says Professor William Regelson of Virginia University, a specialist in insomnia. 'Because it can seriously undermine the functioning of the immune system, sufferers are vulnerable to infection.' Section D For many people, lack of sleep is rarely a matter of choice. Some have problems getting to sleep, others with staying asleep until the morning. Despite popular belief that sleep is one long event, research shows that, in an average night, there are five stages of sleep and four cycles, during which the sequence of stages is repeated. In the first light phase, the heart rate and blood pressure go down and the muscles relax. In the next two stages, sleep gets progressively deeper. In stage four, usually reached after an hour, the slumber is so deep that, if awoken, the sleeper would be confused and disorientated. It is in this phase that sleep-walking can occur, with an average episode lasting no more than 15 minutes. |
In the fifth stage, the rapid eye movement (REM) stage, the heartbeat quickly gets back to normal levels, brain activity accelerates to daytime heights and above and the eyes move constantly beneath closed lids as if the sleeper is looking at something. During this stage, the body is almost paralysed. This REM phase is also the time when we dream. Section E Sleeping patterns change with age, which is why many people over 60 develop insomnia. In America, that age group consumes almost half the sleep medication on the market. One theory for the age-related change is that it is due to hormonal changes. The temperature rise occurs at daybreak in the young, but at three or four in the morning in the elderly. Age aside, it is estimated that roughly one in three people suffer some kind of sleep disturbance. Causes can be anything from pregnancy and stress to alcohol and heart disease. Smoking is a known handicap to sleep, with one survey showing that ex-smokers got to sleep in 18 minutes rather than their earlier average of 52 minutes. Section F Apart from self-help therapy such as regular exercise, there are psychological treatments, including relaxation training and therapy aimed at getting rid of pre-sleep worries and anxieties. There is also sleep reduction therapy, where the aim is to improve sleep quality by strictly regulating the time people go to bed and when they get up. Medication is regarded by many as a last resort and often takes the form of sleeping pills, normally benzodiazepines, which are minor tranquillizers. Section G Professor Regelson advocates the use of melatonin for treating sleep disorders. Melatonin is a naturally secreted hormone, located in the pineal gland deep inside the brain. The main function of the hormone is to control the body's biological clock, so we know when to sleep and when to wake. The gland detects light reaching it through the eye; when there is no light, it secretes the melatonin into the bloodstream, lowering the body temperature and helping to induce sleep. Melatonin pills contain a synthetic version of the hormone and are commonly used for jet lag as well as for sleep disturbance. John Nicholls, sales manager of one of America's largest health food shops, claims that sales of the pill have increased dramatically. He explains that it is sold in capsules, tablets, lozenges and mixed with herbs. It is not. effective for all insomniacs, but many users have weaned themselves off sleeping tablets as a result of its application. |
The passage has seven sections labelled A-G.
Which section contains the following information?
Write the correct letter A-G in boxes 28-35 on your answer sheet.
NB You may use any letter more than once.
(Guide: Candidates need to answer the questions by selecting from paragraphs A to G)
- the different amounts of sleep that people require
Answer: A
Supporting Sentence: Dr Jill Wilkinson, senior lecturer in psychology at Surrey University and co-author of 'Psychology in Counselling and Therapeutic Practice', states that healthy individuals sleeping less than five hours or even as little as two hours in every 24 hours are rare, but represent a sizeable minority.
Keyword: Amount, Sleep
Keyword Location: Section A, Last Line
Explanation: As the statement says about the different amount of sleep required by the perople, In the 1st section, Dr Jill Wilkinson told about that. The given information matches with the Section A.
- an investigation into the results of sleep deprivation
Answer: C
Supporting Sentence: Researchers in San Diego deprived a group of men of sleep between Sam and lam on just one night, and found that levels of their bodies' natural defences against viral infections had fallen significantly when measured the following morning.
Keyword:Deprived, Sleep, Investigation
Keyword Location: Section C, 1st Line
Explanation: As the common word "Deprived" found in the Section C. It matches with the given statement. The given information matches with the Section C.
Also check:
- some reasons why people may suffer from sleep disorders
Answer: E
Supporting Sentence: Age aside, it is estimated that roughly one in three people suffer some kind of sleep disturbance.
Keyword: Sleep Disorder, Sleep disturbance
Keyword Location: Section E, 5th Line
Explanation: The common word in both the statement and supporting sentence is "Sleep disturbance/ Sleep disorder. Thus, the statement is clearly matching with the supporting sentence. The given information matches with Section E.
- lifestyle changes which can help overcome sleep-related problems
Answer: F
Supporting Sentence: Apart from self-help therapy such as regular exercise, there are psychological treatments, including relaxation training and therapy aimed at getting rid of pre-sleep worries and anxieties.
Keyword: Problems, Changes
Keyword Location: Section F, 1st Line
Explanation: Lifestyle changes such as relaxation training and therapy help overcome sleep-related problems. Clearly, the given information matches with Section F.
- a process by which sleep helps us to remain mentally and physically healthy
Answer: B
Supporting Sentence: One supporting piece of evidence for this rest-and repair theory is that production of the growth hormone somatotropin, which helps tissue to regenerate, peaks while we are asleep.
Keyword: Mentally, Physically, Health, Process
Keyword Location: Section B, 2nd Line
Explanation: The growth of the hormone somatotropin helps tissue to regenerate, peaks while we are asleep. It helps us to remain mentally and physically fit. The given information matches with Section B.
- claims about a commercialised man-made product for sleeplessness
Answer: G
Supporting Sentence: Melatonin pills contain a synthetic version of the hormone and are commonly used for jet lag as well as for sleep disturbance.
Keyword: synthetic, man-made product, Sleeplessness, Sleep disturbance
Keyword Location: Section G, 5th Line
Explanation: The common word in the statement and the supporting sentence is synthetic/ man-made. This clearly says that the given information matches with Section G.
- the role of physical changes in sleeping habits
Answer: E
Supporting Sentence: In America, that age group consumes almost half the sleep medication on the market. One theory for the age-related change is that it is due to hormonal changes.
Keyword: Sleeping Habits, Physical Changes
Keyword Location: Section E, 2nd Line
Explanation: The given information matches with the Section E.
- the processes involved during sleep
Answer: D
Supporting Sentence: For many people, lack of sleep is rarely a matter of choice. Some have problems getting to sleep, others with staying asleep until the morning.
Keyword: Process, Sleep
Keyword Location: Section D, 1st Line
Explanation: The given information matches with the Section D.
Questions 36-40
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the passage?
In boxes 36-40 on your answer sheet, write:
TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this
(Guide: Candidates need to answer the questions by selecting True or False or Not Given)
- Sleep can cure some illnesses.
Answer: NOT GIVEN
Explanation: There is no fact provided in the passage about the given information.
- The various stages of sleep occur more than once a night.
Answer: TRUE
Supporting Sentence: in an average night, there are five stages of sleep and four cycles, during which the sequence of stages is repeated.
Keyword: various stages, occur, sleep
Keyword location: Para D
Explanation: The writer has clearly explained the various stages of sleep in paragraph D. the writer has said, in a regular night, one will have five stages of sleep, and four cycles. It is then that the sequence of stages is repeated.
- Dreaming and sleep-walking occur at similar stages of sleep.
Answer: FALSE
Supporting Sentence: In stage four, usually reached after an hour, the slumber is so deep that, if awoken, the sleeper would be confused and disorientated. It is in this phase that sleep-walking can occur, with an average episode lasting no more than 15 minutes.
Keyword: dreaming and sleep walking, occur, similar stages
Keyword location: Para D
Explanation: The supporting sentence provides information about stage four. That is the stage that generally takes an hour, and is the deepest one. If the sleeper is awoken that time, they might be confused and disoriented as well. Sleep-walking occurs in this stage, and an average episode continues for not more than 15 minutes.
- Sleepers move around a lot during the REM stage of sleep.
Answer: FALSE
Supporting Sentence: In the fifth stage, the rapid eye movement (REM) stage, the heartbeat quickly gets back to normal levels, brain activity accelerates to daytime heights and above and the eyes move constantly beneath closed lids as if the sleeper is looking at something.
Keyword: sleepers, move around a lot, REM
Keyword location: Para D
Explanation: The supporting sentence provides information about the 5th stage. This stage is also called the rapid eye movement or REM stage. The heartbeat reaches the normal level, the brain activity fast-tracks to daytime heights, and the eyes go through movements even with closed lids.
- The body temperature rises relatively early in elderly people.
Answer: TRUE
Supporting Sentence: The temperature rise occurs at daybreak in the young, but at three or four in the morning in the elderly.
Keyword: body temperature, daybreak, rise occurs
Keyword location: Para E
Explanation: The supporting sentence talks about temperate and how it rises during the daybreak in the young. But in the case of elderly, it is three or four in the morning.
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