Practice English Reading Exercises for B2 – Sleep, Dreams & Mental Well-being 8

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

You are going to read an article about four people sharing their experiences of visiting a sleep clinic to diagnose severe snoring.

For questions 1-10, choose from the people/sections (A-D). The people/sections may be chosen more than once.

Which person/section

1   previously attributed their exhaustion to the pressures of a busy everyday life?

2   was pleasantly surprised by the inviting and comfortable setting of the testing facility?

3   was reluctant to seek professional help until someone else issued an ultimatum?

4   expresses relief at no longer having to avoid overnight trips with acquaintances?

5   notices a dramatic enhancement in their ability to concentrate during the day?

6   experienced a daily physical discomfort that has now completely vanished?

7   felt anxious about the prospect of trying to rest while attached to monitoring equipment?

8   acknowledges the emotional distress their nighttime noise caused a family member?

9   admits that a deep sense of embarrassment severely restricted their social life?

10   felt a massive psychological weight lift upon finally understanding the medical reason for their struggles?

Waking Up to the Truth: How a Sleep Clinic Changed Our Lives

A Mark

For years, I stubbornly refused to believe my snoring was a serious issue. I’d wake up exhausted, usually with a pounding headache, but I simply accepted it as a normal part of getting older. It wasn’t until my wife put her foot down and insisted I get checked that I finally agreed to visit a sleep clinic. I had been sleeping in the spare room for months, and the guilt of keeping her awake was really starting to wear me down; it was incredibly unfair to subject her to my deafening snores every single night. The specialists diagnosed me with severe sleep apnoea. Since I started using a breathing device, the transformation has been miraculous. That dull, throbbing pain in my head is a thing of the past, and my overall mood has improved drastically. Knowing that I am no longer disrupting my wife’s rest has lifted a huge psychological burden off my shoulders. I only wish I hadn’t been so stubborn in the beginning.

B Chloe

Before my diagnosis, I spent my days walking around in a dense fog. I was constantly drained, but I put my chronic fatigue down to the everyday pressures of a demanding workload and a fast-paced lifestyle. I just assumed everyone felt that exhausted! However, when my colleagues began pointing out that I was repeatedly nodding off during afternoon meetings, I knew I had to take action. The sleep clinic revealed that my airway was collapsing dozens of times an hour, completely wrecking my sleep cycle. Now that I am receiving proper treatment, the mental fog has entirely lifted. My focus is sharper than ever, and I no longer rely on endless cups of coffee just to make it through the afternoon. The psychological relief of regaining my cognitive edge is phenomenal. I used to worry that I was simply burning out, so discovering there was a physiological reason behind my struggles was incredibly reassuring.

C David

The prospect of spending the night in a medical facility made me incredibly anxious. I had envisioned a sterile hospital ward and dreaded the idea of trying to drift off while hooked up to countless wires and sensors. To my absolute surprise, the sleep clinic was remarkably welcoming; the room was decorated in warm colours and felt much more like a cosy hotel than a clinical laboratory. The technicians put me at ease immediately. After monitoring my brainwaves and breathing, they confirmed that my severe snoring was linked to a breathing disorder. Having a concrete label for the exhaustion I’d battled for a decade brought an indescribable sense of peace. I had spent so long thinking I was just lazy or unmotivated. Understanding the medical reality of my situation was a huge weight off my mind. Waking up after my first fully oxygenated night of sleep was a revelation; I hadn’t felt that refreshed since my twenties.

D Elena

My snoring wasn’t just a nighttime annoyance; it actively dictated my lifestyle. I lived in constant fear of dozing off on public transport or falling asleep on a flight and disturbing strangers. The sheer humiliation of keeping people awake meant I constantly turned down weekend getaways with friends or overnight work trips. It was incredibly isolating, and the anxiety of potentially being mocked took a severe toll on my mental health over the years. I finally hit breaking point and booked a clinical assessment. Getting treated hasn’t just improved my physical energy; it has completely given me my life back. The psychological freedom of no longer feeling ashamed is hard to put into words. I recently went on a camping trip with my best friends and shared a tent without a second thought. For anyone suffering in silence because they feel embarrassed, I cannot recommend seeking professional help enough—it is truly life-changing.

Reading 2

You are going to read an article about four teenagers discussing the surreal experience of “false awakenings,” where they dream about waking up and getting ready for school multiple times.

For questions 1-10, choose from the people (A-D). The people may be chosen more than once.

Which person

1   realised they were unconscious because of the surreal appearance of the outside world?

2   admits that this phenomenon is usually triggered by the fear of failing to adhere to a strict timetable?

3   successfully employs a regular physical check to break out of the dream loop?

4   describes the sensation of heavy physical exhaustion upon eventually waking up for real?

5   felt a profound sense of relief upon discovering they had not actually missed their morning deadline?

6   struggled to distinguish between memories of real events and actions they had merely dreamt about?

7   confesses they initially found these recurring episodes to be a highly frightening experience?

8   incorrectly assumed that a piece of bedroom technology was broken during their dream?

9   experienced the frustration of having to repeat a tedious morning chore they thought they had already finished?

10   points out that their subconscious was attempting to mentally prepare them for a demanding situation?

Trapped in the Loop: The Bizarre World of False Awakenings

A Liam

I used to take it for granted that when I opened my eyes, the day had officially begun. However, last month, I experienced a series of bizarre ‘false awakenings’ that completely messed with my head. I dreamt I woke up, dragged myself out of bed, and meticulously packed my school bag, even making a cheese sandwich for lunch. Then, I’d ‘wake up’ again in my bed, only to repeat the entire agonizing process. By the time my actual alarm went off, I felt as though I had already lived through an entire Monday. The physical fatigue was overwhelming; my limbs felt like lead before I’d even stepped out the front door. The most confusing part, however, was how it completely blurred the lines of reality. Later that afternoon, I was utterly convinced I had brought my history homework, but it was sitting on my desk at home. I genuinely couldn’t tell if I had actually packed it or just dreamt about doing so. It’s incredibly disorienting when your own memory plays tricks on you like that.

B Maya

I always thought false awakenings were just an urban myth until I caught myself in a relentless loop during exam week. In my dream, I got up, brushed my teeth, and checked the digital clock on my bedside table. The numbers were flashing strange, alien symbols. Initially, I just assumed my alarm clock had malfunctioned or the battery had completely died. I stumbled into the kitchen to grab some cereal, but when I looked out the window, the sky was a vibrant shade of purple and the trees were growing upside down. That’s when the penny finally dropped—I noticed these completely illogical details and figured out that I was still fast asleep. While some people find the experience unnerving, I actually found it somewhat fascinating once I realised what was happening. Despite knowing I was dreaming, it took an immense amount of effort to force my eyes open in the real world. Now, whenever I wake up, I immediately look out the window just to be absolutely sure!

C Toby

My false awakenings only ever seem to occur when I’m under a tremendous amount of pressure. Last term, I had to give a massive geography presentation, and the dread of being late kept me tossing and turning all night. In my dream, I overslept, missed the school bus, and had to run all the way to school in the pouring rain. I dreamt I arrived soaking wet and missed my speaking slot entirely. When I finally jolted awake in reality, my heart was pounding out of my chest. I frantically checked my phone, bracing myself for the worst. Seeing that it was only 6:00 AM brought a wave of profound relief; I still had plenty of time. My psychology teacher later explained that this phenomenon is actually just the brain’s quirky way of rehearsing for an upcoming challenge. Because I was so incredibly stressed about the strict schedule of the day, my subconscious was essentially running a simulation. It makes sense, but I’d still prefer a peaceful night’s sleep over a stressful rehearsal!

D Chloe

Going through multiple false awakenings can feel exactly like being trapped in a bizarre, inescapable maze. When it first started happening to me a couple of years ago, I found the inability to wake up deeply terrifying. I would dream about getting dressed for school three or four times in a row, leading to sheer panic when I couldn’t break the vicious cycle. However, rather than just putting up with it, I looked into lucid dreaming techniques and came across something called ‘reality testing’. Nowadays, I’ve trained myself to look closely at the palms of my hands every single time I get out of bed. In a dream, your hands usually look blurry or have the wrong number of fingers. Successfully employing this simple conscious habit allows me to instantly recognise that I’m stuck in a loop. Once I am aware I’m dreaming, the fear vanishes completely, and I can usually force myself to wake up properly. It’s a huge relief to have finally come to terms with the condition and taken back control.

Exercises:   123456