雅思阅读模拟题：Insomnia - The Enemy of Sleep

　　这篇雅思阅读模拟题的主要内容是讨论了对于睡眠来说最重要的敌人，就是失眠的现象。这篇文章从各种方面讨论了失眠对于人类睡眠和身体的影响。下面就和也一起来看看吧。

　　A

　　It is not unusual to have sleep troubles from time to time. But, if you feel you do not get enough sleep or satisfying sleep, you may have insomnia, a sleep disorder. People with insomnia have one or more of the following: difficulty falling asleep, waking up often during the night and having trouble going back to sleep, waking up too early in the morning and unrefreshing sleep. Insomnia is not defined by the number of hours you sleep every night. The amount of sleep a person needs varies. While most people need between 7 and 8 hours of sleep a night, some people do well with less, and some need more.

　　B

　　Insomnia occurs most frequently in people over age 60, in people with a history of depression, and in women, especially after menopause. Severe emotional trauma can also cause insomnia with divorced, widowed and separated people being the most likely to suffer from this sleep disorder.

　　Stress, anxiety, illness and other sleep disorders such as restless legs syndrome are the most common causes of insomnia. An irregular work schedule, jet lag or brain damage from a stroke or Alzeimers disease can also cause insomnia as well as excessive use of alcohol or illicit drugs. It can also accompany a variety of mental illnesses.

　　C

　　The mechanism that induces sleep is not known. When it becomes dark, the pineal gland in the brain secretes a hormone called melatonin, which is thought to induce sleep. Exactly why sleep is necessary for good health and efficient mental functioning is unknown. We do know that sleep consists of two very different states: rapid eye movement sleep and non-REM sleep. In REM sleep, dreams occur, the eyes move under the closed lids and there is an increase in oxygen consumption, blood flow and neural activity. REM sleep occurs four or five times during a night.

　　Beginning periods last about ten to fifteen minutes but the periods get longer as the night goes on. The periods of REM sleep alternate with longer periods of non-REM sleep, when body functions slow. Non-REM sleep has four stages. During the deepest stages it is hard to rouse a sleeper. As the night goes on, the periods of non-REM sleep become progressively lighter.

　　Sleep in stages 1 and 2 are felt to be restorative as during this time the body repairs itself utilising a hormone called somatostatin. Lack of stage 4 sleep is believed to be important in chronically painful conditions such as fibromyalgia.

　　D

　　Healthcare providers diagnose insomnia in several ways. One way is to categorize insomnia by how often it occurs. Another way is to identify the insomnia by what is causing the sleep deprivation. The two main types of insomnia have been described as Primary Insomnia and Secondary Insomnia. Primary Insomnia is a chronic condition with little apparent association with stress or a medical problem. The most common form of primary insomnia is psychophysiological insomnia. Secondary insomnia is caused by symptoms that accompany a medical condition such as anxiety, depression or pain.

　　E

　　Improving ones sleep hygiene helps improve insomnia in all patients. Relaxing during the hour before you go to sleep and creating a comfortable environment suited for sleep can be helpful. Older people who wake up earlier than normal or have trouble falling asleep may need less sleep than they used to. Changing ones sleep pattern, either by going to bed later or waking up earlier, can be effective in dealing with insomnia in older people. Therapy also depends on the cause and severity of the insomnia. Transient and intermittent insomnia may not require any direct action since these conditions last only a few days at a time. However, if insomnia interferes with a persons daily activities, something should be done. Usually the best method of dealing with insomnia is by attacking the underlying cause. For example, people who are depressed often have insomnia and looking at this problem may eliminate it.

　　F

　　Not getting enough sleep can make you less productive, irritable and unable to concentrate. Lack of sleep can make it seem as if you got up out of the wrong side of the bed. Early morning headaches and waking up feeling as if you never went to sleep can result in frustration. Stress can cause insomnia but insomnia also increases stress. Insomnia can make driving unsafe as well. Insomnia can result in missed work, which can cause you to become less productive and miss promotions. It can leave you feeling as if you just cant get enough done. Insomnia can also mask serious mental disorders. People with insomnia may think that not getting enough sleep is their only problem, but the insomnia may actually be one symptom of a larger disorder, such as depression. Studies show that people with insomnia are four times more likely to be depressed than people with a healthy sleeping pattern. In addition, lack of sleep can tax the heart and lead to serious conditions like heart disease. All of these are important problems that can affect every part of your life.

　　G

　　Establishing certain set routines can help insomniacs get better sleep. Examples of these routines include: going to bed and getting up at the same time every day, avoiding napping, avoiding caffeine, nicotine, alcohol and eating heavily late in the day, exercising regularly and making your bedroom comfortable in terms of the bed, noise and temperature. Insomniacs should also only use their bedroom for sleep so that their bodies associate the room with sleep. Finally, if you cant get to sleep, dont toss and turn all night. Get up and read or do something that is not overly stimulating until you feel really sleepy again.

　　Questions 1 - 14

　　The reading passage on Insomnia has 7 paragraphs .

　　From the list of headings below choose the most suitable headings for paragraphs B G.

　　Write the appropriate number in boxes 14 19 on your answer sheet.

　　NB There are more headings than paragraphs, so you will not use them all.

　　Example Answer

　　Paragraph A iv

　　i The Role of Sleep

　　ii Insomnia Medication

　　iii Habits to Promote a Good Nights Sleep

　　iv What is Insomnia

　　v Complications for Insomniacs

　　vi Government Action

　　vii Available Treatment for Insomnia

　　viii The Causes of Insomnia

　　ix Therapy Solutions

　　x Types of Insomnia

　　xi Current Research

　　1.Paragraph B　　2.Paragraph C　　3.Paragraph D　　4.Paragraph E　　5.Paragraph F　　6.Paragraph G

　　Questions 7 - 14

　　Do the following statements agree with the views of the writer of the reading passage on Insomnia?

　　In Boxes 7 - 14 write:

　　YES if the statement agrees with the writer

　　NO if the statement doesnt agree with the writer

　　NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this

　　7. Someone who only gets four hours of sleep a night must be suffering from insomnia.

　　8. Travelling can cause insomnia.

　　9. REM sleep is felt to be the most important for the bodys rest.

　　10.Secondary insomnia is far more common than primary insomnia.

　　11.Sufferers of insomnia can attend specialist sleep clinics.

　　12. Many people suffering from insomnia dont realise that they suffer from it.

　　13.There is no actual correlation linking insomnia and depression.

　　14. Sleeping during the day can make insomnia worse.