Practice English Reading Exercises for B2 – Sleep, Dreams & Mental Well-being 9

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

You are going to read an article about four young adults reflecting on a book that explains the vital role of REM sleep in processing and softening painful emotional memories overnight.

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

Which person/section

1   admits that a substance they relied on actually delayed their emotional healing?

2   feels thankful for nighttime visions that are absurd or unsettling?

3   initially harboured doubts about the writer’s claim regarding emotional recovery?

4   made significant alterations to their nightly schedule after finishing the chapters?

5   managed to process the intense shame of a career-related mishap?

6   mentions that they are now able to talk about a tragic event without weeping?

7   formerly regarded spending hours in bed as a completely inefficient habit?

8   understands that their mind was using bizarre imagery to digest a distressing episode?

9   states that their decision to read the book was triggered by the end of a romance?

10   suggests the publication to individuals who might be dismissive of its concepts?

The Night Shift: How REM Sleep Heals the Mind

A Liam

When my long-term relationship unexpectedly fell apart last winter, I was entirely consumed by grief. A colleague handed me The Night Shift, a book detailing how REM sleep essentially acts as overnight therapy, and I was immediately intrigued. The author explains that during the dreaming phase of sleep, our brain processes emotional experiences in a neurochemical safe environment, gently stripping away the sharpest edges of our pain. This was a massive eye-opener for me. In the weeks following the split, I had been relying on a glass or two of wine before bed to help me nod off. However, the book highlights that alcohol drastically suppresses REM sleep. Without realising it, my supposed coping mechanism had been actively preventing my brain from digesting the heartbreak! Had I not discovered this, I would have continued blocking my own recovery. I immediately ditched the nightcap, and gradually, the intense heartache began to fade.

B Chloe

A few months ago, I completely froze during a crucial presentation at my firm, forgetting my words in front of senior management. It was utterly mortifying. For weeks, I was plagued by the most ridiculous, surreal dreams where I was trying to deliver a speech while my teeth fell out or the audience turned into animals. I thought I was losing the plot until I picked up The Night Shift. The book elegantly outlines how the brain uses the distorted narrative structure of dreams to safely replay and defuse waking anxieties. My subconscious wasn’t torturing me; it was meticulously breaking down the trauma of that workplace disaster. Understanding this psychological phenomenon brought me immense relief. Instead of waking up in a cold sweat, I now actually appreciate these wacky, cinematic nightmares. They are simply evidence that my mind is doing its job, effectively clearing out psychological baggage so I can bounce back stronger.

C Sam

Throughout university, I firmly believed that sleeping for eight hours was a sign of pure laziness. I viewed slumber as an annoying biological necessity that ate into my productive hours. Consequently, I survived on four hours a night and a massive amount of caffeine. It wasn’t until I experienced severe burnout that a therapist recommended this fascinating read about the emotional processing power of REM sleep. The evidence presented is absolutely compelling. It turns out that chronically cutting your rest short deprives you of the vital phase where emotional equilibrium is restored. Shaken by the cognitive damage I was unknowingly inflicting on myself, I completely revamped my evening habits. I now enforce a strict digital curfew and ensure I get a full night’s rest. If you are someone who rolls their eyes at the idea of prioritising sleep, I strongly urge you to grab a copy of this book; it will undoubtedly make you rethink your entire lifestyle.

D Maya

Following the sudden passing of my beloved grandfather, I felt as though a dark cloud was permanently hanging over me. A friend lent me a copy of The Night Shift, but I was incredibly cynical. I scoffed at the author’s bold premise that simply going to sleep could act as a sophisticated emotional filter, gradually dulling the pain of bereavement over time. It sounded like pseudo-scientific nonsense. Nevertheless, as the months passed, I began to notice a subtle shift. Although the factual memory of his loss remained perfectly intact, the visceral, gut-wrenching agony attached to it started to ease. The book’s theory was unfolding exactly as described: my REM sleep was quietly untangling the raw emotion from the historical event. Nowadays, I am able to reminisce about my grandfather and share fond stories without instantly breaking down in tears. It is a profound comfort to know that our own biology has a built-in mechanism for healing.

Reading 2

You are going to read an article about four individuals describing the bizarre phenomenon of “exploding head syndrome,” waking up to imaginary loud noises, and the initial panic it caused.

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

Which person/section

1   mentions experiencing a brief optical illusion at the exact moment of the sound?

2   was reluctant to disclose their symptoms due to a fear of being misunderstood?

3   carried out a thorough inspection of their property to locate the cause of the noise?

4   attributes the start of these nocturnal disturbances to a highly demanding phase of life?

5   had their mind put at rest by a formal medical consultation?

6   developed a severe apprehension about going to sleep to avoid a repetition of the event?

7   independently uncovered the medical term for their experience using digital resources?

8   reduced the frequency of the occurrences by altering their everyday habits?

9   felt a sense of relief after a companion recognised the description of the syndrome?

10   jumped to the conclusion that an unauthorised person had entered their home?

Shattering the Silence: Waking Up to Exploding Head Syndrome

A Liam

The very first time it happened, I was jolted awake by what sounded exactly like a massive explosion right next to my ear. Naturally, my immediate thought was that someone had forced their way into the flat. My heart was pounding out of my chest as I grabbed a heavy flashlight and meticulously scoured every single room, fully expecting to confront an intruder. To my utter bewilderment, the place was completely secure, and the street outside was perfectly calm. For a few weeks, I seriously considered making an appointment with a physician to check my ears, but I eventually decided to type my bizarre symptoms into a search engine. That is when I stumbled upon ‘exploding head syndrome’. Reading countless accounts from fellow sufferers was a tremendous weight off my shoulders. I had been terrified that my brain was playing cruel tricks on me, but finding the clinical definition on a health forum completely put my mind at ease.

B Chloe

It started during my second year of university, sounding exactly like a shotgun firing at the foot of my bed. Initially, I just sat up and glanced frantically around the bedroom, but I didn’t get up to investigate because I was too paralysed by fear. The episodes became so frequent that I began to dread nighttime entirely. The mere thought of drifting off filled me with intense anxiety, knowing that I would likely be rudely awakened by that imaginary blast. My sleep deprivation became so severe that I had no choice but to consult my local GP. Fortunately, she was incredibly understanding and immediately diagnosed the phenomenon, explaining that it was a harmless sensory glitch that occurs as the brain transitions into deep sleep. Having a qualified expert categorically rule out any serious neurological conditions was the turning point for me. Once the medical mystery was solved, the nocturnal blasts gradually lost their terrifying grip on my life.

C Mateo

My encounters with this bizarre condition coincided perfectly with my final exams. I was under an immense amount of pressure, surviving on strong coffee and barely getting any rest. Out of the blue, I started waking up to the deafening sound of cymbals crashing. What made it particularly alarming was that the noise was always accompanied by a blinding flash of light across my vision, almost as if a camera had gone off in the pitch black. It was a terrifying sensory overload. I didn’t want to talk to my friends about it, fearing they would think I was hallucinating. However, after coming to terms with the fact that my gruelling schedule was the root cause, I completely overhauled my routine. I cut out caffeine in the afternoons, incorporated daily meditation, and enforced a strict bedtime. Thankfully, modifying my lifestyle paid off, and those startling nighttime disruptions have finally become a thing of the past.

D Sophia

For months, I suffered in complete silence whenever I was awoken by what sounded like electrical buzzing followed by a loud thunderclap. I was absolutely petrified of mentioning it to anyone. I figured that if I casually told people I was hearing phantom noises in the middle of the night, they would assume I was losing my grip on reality. The isolation only amplified the panic, making me feel incredibly lonely. One evening, whilst having dinner with a close colleague, the topic of weird sleep habits came up. Taking a leap of faith, I tentatively described my jarring awakenings. To my sheer disbelief, she didn’t laugh; instead, she nodded sympathetically and told me she had recently read an article about ‘exploding head syndrome’. Knowing that my terrifying secret actually had a documented name—and that I wasn’t the only one experiencing it—instantly banished the shame I had been harbouring for so long.

Exercises:   123456