Practice English Reading Exercises for B2 – Sleep, Dreams & Mental Well-being 1

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

You are going to read an article about four young adults reviewing a popular science book about sleep and realizing how their chronic sleep deprivation is actively destroying their cognitive functions.

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 to previously viewing their ability to function on minimal rest as a personal achievement?

2   realised their tendency to make impulsive choices was actually a symptom of exhaustion?

3   initially attributed their frequent bad moods to the heavy demands of their occupation?

4   explains that a particular phase of slumber is essential for linking unrelated concepts together?

5   points out that their interactions with loved ones were deteriorating before reading the book?

6   notes that their former strategy for passing assessments was completely counterproductive?

7   initially questioned the validity of the author’s claims regarding cognitive decline?

8   confesses to having established a firm boundary regarding the use of electronic devices at night?

9   acknowledges that their inability to generate fresh ideas was merely a side effect of fatigue?

10   discovered that a lack of shut-eye severely compromised their capacity to retain newly acquired facts?

Waking Up to the Truth: How Sleep Deprivation Destroys the Mind

A Oliver

For years, I wore my sleep deprivation like a badge of honour, constantly bragging to friends about how little rest I needed. Whenever exam season rolled around, I would routinely pull all-nighters, mistakenly believing that studying until dawn was the guaranteed key to academic success. However, reading The Slumber Paradox was a massive wake-up call. The author clearly breaks down how the brain successfully consolidates memory. It turns out that by cutting my sleep short, I was actively preventing my brain from transferring new information into long-term storage. Basically, my late-night cramming sessions were doing considerably more harm than good! I used to think I was just naturally forgetful, or I assumed my occasional mood swings were to blame for my poor focus. Now I realise that without adequate rest, my cognitive hard drive simply couldn’t save the data. Since I’ve started prioritising eight hours of sleep, I’ve found it far easier to absorb complex theories, and my grades have bounced back remarkably.

B Zoe

I’ve always considered myself a highly spontaneous person who loves living in the moment. I frequently made snap decisions, from booking last-minute weekend flights to buying extravagant things I honestly couldn’t afford. It wasn’t until I picked up this popular science book that the penny finally dropped: my supposed ‘spontaneity’ was actually severe impulsivity caused by chronic sleep deprivation. The book explains that when you are perpetually exhausted, the prefrontal cortex—the area of the brain responsible for logical reasoning and evaluating risks—effectively goes offline. I was making poor choices simply because my brain was too tired to process the long-term consequences. Although I initially struggled to change my habits, I have now implemented a strict digital curfew. By switching off my tablet and smartphone at 8 PM every evening, I have managed to reclaim my sleep schedule. Consequently, I feel much more grounded, and my ability to thoroughly think things through before acting has improved drastically.

C Harry

Working as a junior architect is an incredibly competitive pursuit, and for a long time, I took it for granted that feeling constantly irritated was just part of the job. I assumed the immense pressure of my daily workload was making me snap at my colleagues and argue over trivial matters with my flatmates. However, this insightful book revealed that my emotional volatility had entirely different roots. When you are chronically sleep-deprived, the amygdala—the brain’s emotional epicentre—becomes hyperactive, making you wildly overreact to minor inconveniences. Knowing that my deteriorating friendships were a direct result of my own poor sleep habits, rather than inevitable work stress, was a bitter pill to swallow. The author also highlighted how fatigue hampers concentration, which made me reflect on my recent lack of focus. Coming to terms with the fact that I was unknowingly sabotaging my own emotional intelligence was difficult, but I have since adopted a much healthier routine.

D Maya

As a freelance graphic designer, my livelihood depends entirely on my imagination. Last year, I hit a massive creative wall. I couldn’t come up with any original concepts, and I was terrified that I had simply lost my touch. When a friend enthusiastically recommended a book on the science of sleep, I must admit I was highly sceptical; I couldn’t fathom how spending more time unconscious could possibly cure my creative block. However, had I not read those chapters, I would have probably quit my profession out of sheer frustration. The author details how, during REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep, the brain actively connects seemingly unrelated pieces of information to form novel ideas. By consistently surviving on five hours of rest, I was depriving myself of the very biological mechanism that fuels innovation. Now that I’ve stopped burning the midnight oil, my imagination has returned in full force. It’s astounding how much cognitive damage we inflict on ourselves without even realising it.

Reading 2

You are going to read an article about four teenagers sharing their terrifying personal encounters with “sleep paralysis” and how they eventually learned to rationalize the hallucinations.

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 finding comfort in understanding the scientific mechanics of the sleep cycle?

2   points out a specific physical trick used to break out of the frozen state?

3   discovered a link between their episodes and their level of fatigue or anxiety?

4   felt immense relief after a specialist confirmed their mental well-being was intact?

5   found that adjusting the way they lay in bed helped keep the episodes at bay?

6   initially believed an intruder had gained access to their bedroom?

7   describes the terrifying sensation of being pinned down by a heavy object?

8   experienced the bizarre illusion of hovering in the air?

9   admits to hiding their condition from others because they feared being mocked?

10   relies on a written log to monitor their nighttime disturbances?

Waking Nightmares: Confronting Sleep Paralysis

A Leo

The first time it happened, I woke up in the dead of night and couldn’t move a muscle. It felt as though an invisible weight was violently crushing my chest, making it virtually impossible to breathe. I was convinced a monster was sitting on me. For months, I kept the ordeal completely under wraps. I was terrified that if I confided in my mates, they would just laugh and assume I had completely lost the plot. The fear of going to sleep was utterly draining. Eventually, I stumbled across a journal explaining the phenomenon. It turns out that during REM sleep, our bodies naturally paralyse themselves so we don’t act out our dreams. My brain was simply waking up before my body did. Grasping this biological mechanism was a total game-changer for me. Now, if I wake up frozen, I just remind myself that it’s a harmless glitch, and the panic quickly subsides.

B Maya

My sleep paralysis didn’t feature visual monsters, but the auditory hallucinations were absolutely horrifying. I remember lying frozen, hearing distinct footsteps creeping up the stairs and my bedroom door creaking open. I was absolutely certain a burglar had broken into the house, but I couldn’t even shout for help. My heart was pounding out of my chest until the spell finally broke. Desperate to figure out why this was happening, I started keeping a detailed sleep diary. Over time, a clear pattern emerged: the episodes almost always struck when I was burning the midnight oil or feeling swamped by schoolwork. By identifying that exhaustion and stress were my main triggers, I regained a sense of control. If I prioritise getting eight hours of shut-eye and wind down before bed, the terrifying footsteps rarely return.

C Sam

I’ll never forget the sheer terror of opening my eyes to see a tall, shadowy figure lurking in the corner of my room. I tried to thrash around, but my limbs felt like they were made of lead. The shadow seemed to drift closer, and I genuinely thought my time was up. After doing some extensive research online, I discovered a bizarre but highly effective coping strategy. Apparently, if you concentrate all your mental energy on wiggling just one small body part, like your little toe, it sends a signal to your brain to wake up the rest of your nervous system. It takes immense willpower, but it actually works! Furthermore, I realised that I only ever saw these shadow people when I slept flat on my back. Since I made a conscious effort to always drift off while lying on my side, the visitors have virtually disappeared.

D Chloe

My encounters with sleep paralysis were downright surreal. Instead of seeing demons, I experienced the uncanny sensation of levitating. I would wake up paralysed, and then feel as though I was physically floating a few feet above my mattress, staring down at my own body. It was completely mind-boggling, and for a while, I genuinely worried that I was suffering from a severe psychological disorder. The anxiety became so overwhelming that my parents finally took me to a sleep clinic. Sitting in his office, I hesitantly described the levitation to the doctor. Instead of looking concerned, he smiled warmly and assured me that out-of-body experiences are a classic symptom of sleep paralysis and that my mental health was perfectly fine. That professional reassurance lifted a massive burden off my shoulders, taking all the horror out of the illusion.

Exercises:   123456