The Reading / Listening - Catastrophic Sleep - Level 6

New research shows that many people are not sleeping enough and that this is having a serious impact on health. Professor Matthew Walker from the Center for Human Sleep Science at the University of California warned that a "catastrophic sleep-misfortune plague" was putting people in danger of ill health. He said a continued lack of sleep was putting people at risk from a large number of possibly fatal diseases. Professor Walker said people need eight hours sleep a night to stay healthy. He continued that people who don't sleep enough will have a shorter life. Walker said the effect of not sleeping enough negatively impacts every single aspect of our health and every part of our body.

Professor Walker warned that a lack of sleep is linked to debilitating diseases such as Alzheimer’s, cancer, heart disease, obesity and diabetes. He warned that we are in a dangerous situation whereby we do not fully understand the very serious, "catastrophic" consequences of not getting eight hours a night. He gave several reasons why we are sleeping less. He said: "First, we electrified the night. Light is a profound degrader of our sleep." He also blamed longer working hours and longer commuting times, a desire to be with friends more rather than sleep, mobile devices, and the increased availability of alcohol and caffeine. He also blamed anxiety and said: "We're a lonelier, more depressed society."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Catastrophic Sleep - Level 4  or  Catastrophic Sleep - Level 5

Sources
  • https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/sep/24/why-lack-of-sleep-health-worst-enemy-matthew-walker-why-we-sleep
  • http://weekfacts.com/2017/09/lack-catastrophic-sleep-modern-society-kills-us-expert-says/
  • https://www.news-medical.net/news/20170924/Lack-of-sleep-could-be-blamed-for-many-major-diseases-says-sleep-scientist-Matt-Walker.aspx


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. SLEEP: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about sleep. Change partners often and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?

       research / serious / health / catastrophic / at risk / fatal / diseases / not sleeping /
       debilitating / cancer / heart disease / consequences / electrified / mobile devices

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. EIGHT HOURS: Students A strongly believe everyone can sleep eight hours a night; Students B strongly believe not everyone can.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. DANGERS: What are the dangers or problems of a lack of sleep? How do these things affect you? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Dangers / Problems

You

Illness

 

 

Anxiety

 

 

Headaches

 

 

Driving

 

 

Working

 

 

Studying

 

 

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5. HEALTH: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "health". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

6. SLEEPLESSNESS: Rank these with your partner. Put the things that most affect sleep at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • coffee
  • light
  • noise
  • heat / cold
  • stress
  • mobile phones
  • TV
  • work

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. Research says sleeplessness has a serious impact on health.     T / F
  2. A university called sleeplessness a plague.     T / F
  3. A researcher said seven hours sleep was enough to stay healthy.     T / F
  4. The researcher said sleeplessness affects every part of our body.     T / F
  5. The researcher says there is no link between sleeplessness and diabetes. T / F
  6. The researcher says we all understand how serious sleeplessness is.     T / F
  7. The researcher said being with friends helps us sleep.     T / F
  8. The researcher said sleeplessness means we are lonelier.     T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. shows
  2. impact
  3. catastrophic
  4. fatal
  5. aspect
  6. debilitating
  7. situation
  8. several
  9. desire
  10. anxiety
  1. ruinous
  2. circumstances
  3. wish
  4. facet
  5. a number of
  6. reveals
  7. deadly
  8. worry
  9. effect
  10. weakening

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

  1. this is having a serious
  2. putting people
  3. a large number of possibly fatal
  4. people who don't sleep enough will
  5. negatively impacts every single
  6. cancer, heart disease, obesity
  7. consequences of not
  8. longer commuting
  9. the increased availability of
  10. We're a lonelier, more
  1. and diabetes
  2. times
  3. aspect of our health
  4. alcohol and caffeine
  5. impact on health
  6. at risk
  7. depressed society
  8. have a shorter life
  9. getting eight hours
  10. diseases

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
ill
stay
serious
aspect
lack
negatively
warned
large

New research shows that many people are not sleeping enough and that this is having a (1) ____________ impact on health. Professor Matthew Walker from the Center for Human Sleep Science at the University of California (2) ____________ that a "catastrophic sleep-misfortune plague" was putting people in danger of (3) ____________ health. He said a continued (4) ____________ of sleep was putting people at risk from a (5) ____________ number of possibly fatal diseases. Professor Walker said people need eight hours sleep a night to (6) ____________ healthy. He continued that people who don't sleep enough will have a shorter life. Walker said the effect of not sleeping enough (7) ____________ impacts every single (8) ____________ of our health and every part of our body.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
several
blamed
lack
anxiety
whereby
availability
diabetes
profound

Professor Walker warned that a (9) ____________ of sleep is linked to debilitating diseases such as Alzheimer’s, cancer, heart disease, obesity and (10) ____________. He warned that we are in a dangerous situation (11) ____________ we do not fully understand the very serious, "catastrophic" consequences of not getting eight hours a night. He gave (12) ____________ reasons why we are sleeping less. He said: "First, we electrified the night. Light is a (13) ____________ degrader of our sleep." He also (14) ____________ longer working hours and longer commuting times, a desire to be with friends more rather than sleep, mobile devices, and the increased (15) ____________ of alcohol and caffeine. He also blamed (16) ____________ and said: "We're a lonelier, more depressed society."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  many people are not sleeping enough and that this is having a serious ______ health
     a.  impact in
     b.  in pact on
     c.  in packed in
     d.  impact on

2)  a "catastrophic sleep-misfortune plague" was putting people in ______ health
     a.  dangers of ill
     b.  danger off ill
     c.  danger of ill
     d.  dangers of ills

3)  a lack of sleep was putting people at risk from a large number of ______ diseases
     a.  possible fatal
     b.  possible ill fatal
     c.  possibly vital
     d.  possibly fatal

4)  He continued that people who don't sleep enough will ______ life
     a.  have the shorter
     b.  have a short air
     c.  have a shorter
     d.  had a short air

5)  not sleeping enough negatively impacts every single ______ health
     a.  aspect of our
     b.  aspects of our
     c.  respect of our
     d.  a specked of our

6)  Professor Walker warned that a lack of sleep is linked ______ diseases
     a.  to debilitating
     b.  to defibrillating
     c.  to confabulating
     d.  to refurbishing

7)  He warned that we are in a dangerous situation whereby we ______ understand
     a.  does not fully
     b.  do not frilly
     c.  do knot fully
     d.  do not fully

8)  First, we electrified the night. Light is a profound ______ sleep.
     a.  degrade all of our
     b.  D-grade of our
     c.  degrader of our
     d.  dig grade of our

9)  He also blamed longer working hours and longer ______
     a.  commute in times
     b.  commune tin times
     c.  commuted times
     d.  commuting times

10)  We're a lonelier, more ______
     a.  depressed society
     b.  repressed society
     c.  compressed society
     d.  un-pressed society

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

New research shows that many people are not sleeping enough and that this is having (1) ___________________ on health. Professor Matthew Walker from the Center for Human Sleep Science at the University of California warned that a "catastrophic sleep-(2) ___________________" was putting people in danger (3) ___________________. He said a continued lack of sleep was putting people at risk from a large number (4) ___________________ diseases. Professor Walker said people need eight hours sleep a night to stay healthy. He continued that people who don't sleep enough will (5) ___________________ life. Walker said the effect of not sleeping enough negatively impacts (6) ___________________ of our health and every part of our body.

Professor Walker warned that a lack of sleep (7) ___________________ to debilitating diseases such as Alzheimer’s, cancer, heart disease, (8) ___________________. He warned that we are in a dangerous situation whereby we do not fully understand the very serious, "catastrophic" consequences of not getting eight hours a night. He (9) ___________________ why we are sleeping less. He said: "First, we electrified the night. Light is a (10) ___________________ of our sleep." He also blamed longer working hours and longer (11) ___________________, a desire to be with friends more rather than sleep, mobile devices, and the increased availability of (12) ___________________. He also blamed anxiety and said: "We're a lonelier, more depressed society."

Comprehension questions

  1. What university does this research come from?
  2. What did the researcher say sleeplessness put people in danger of?
  3. How much sleep did a researcher say people need?
  4. What kind of life might people who lack sleep have?
  5. What parts of the body did a professor say sleeplessness affected?
  6. How many diseases did the professor link a lack of sleep to?
  7. What did the researcher say was a profound degrader of sleep?
  8. What two things did the researcher say were longer?
  9. What did the researcher say there was an increased availability of?
  10. What kind of society did the researcher say we now are?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What university does this research come from?
a) University of California
b) Oxford University
c) Cambridge University
d) Tokyo University

2) What did the researcher say sleeplessness put people in danger of?
a) falling out of bed
b) insomnia
c) ill health
d) headaches

3) How much sleep did a researcher say people need?
a) 9 hours
b) 8 hours
c) 7 hours
d) 6 hours

4) What kind of life might people who lack sleep have?
a)  a busy one
b) a stressful one
c) a tired one
d) a shorted one

5) What parts of the body did a professor say sleeplessness affected?
a) all parts
b) the brain
c) the eyes
d) the back

6) How many diseases did the professor link a lack of sleep to?
a) 8
b) 7
c) 6
d) 5

7) What did the researcher say was a profound degrader of sleep?
a) noise
b) light
c) sugar
d) milk

8) What two things did the researcher say were longer?
a) weekday hours and coming on time
b) weekly hours and common time
c) waking hours and computing time
d) working hours and commuting time

9) What did the researcher say there was an increased availability of?
a) beds and pillows
b) smartphones and tablets
c) alcohol and caffeine
d) books and magazines

10) What kind of society did the researcher say we now are?
a) a sleepier and forgetful one
b) a lonelier and more depressed one
c) a rushed one
d) a difficult one

Role play

Role  A – Stress

You think stress is the biggest cause of sleeplessness. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things don't lead to as much sleeplessness. Also, tell the others which is the least harmful of these (and why): work, noise or smartphones.

Role  B – Work

You think work is the biggest cause of sleeplessness. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things don't lead to as much sleeplessness. Also, tell the others which is the least harmful of these (and why): stress, noise or smartphones.

Role  C – Noise

You think noise is the biggest cause of sleeplessness. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things don't lead to as much sleeplessness. Also, tell the others which is the least harmful of these (and why): work, stress or smartphones.

Role  D – Smartphones

You think smartphones are the biggest cause of sleeplessness. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things don't lead to as much sleeplessness. Also, tell the others which is the least harmful of these (and why):  work, noise or stress.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'sleep'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'health'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • • Share your findings with your partners.

    • Make questions using the words you found.

    • Ask your partner / group your questions.

    2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

    •Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

    3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

    4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

    5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

    • linked
    • whereby
    • several
    • first
    • friends
    • society
    • serious
    • plague
    • fatal
    • stay
    • life
    • single

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - 'Catastrophic' sleep is killing people, say scientists

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'sleep'?
    3. How well do you sleep?
    4. What happens when you don't sleep enough?
    5. Why aren't people getting enough sleep?
    6. What do you think about sleeplessness being called 'catastrophic'?
    7. How can a lack of sleep affect health?
    8. What do you do if you cannot sleep?
    9. Would you sleep longer if you knew you would live longer?
    10. Would you take a pill if it could replace sleep?

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'health'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. How much do you like sleep?
    5. How can sleeplessness lead to so many diseases?
    6. Why don't people understand how serious a lack of sleep is?
    7. How have the Internet and mobile devices affected our sleep?
    8. Are people working too much?
    9. What do you get anxious about?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the researchers?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    New research shows that many people are not sleeping enough and that this is having a serious (1) ____ on health. Professor Matthew Walker from the Center for Human Sleep Science at the University of California warned that a "catastrophic sleep-misfortune (2) ____" was putting people in danger of (3) ____ health. He said a continued lack of sleep was putting people (4) ____ risk from a large number of possibly fatal diseases. Professor Walker said people need eight hours sleep a night to stay healthy. He continued that people who don't sleep enough will have a (5) ____ life. Walker said the effects of not sleeping enough negatively impacts every single (6) ____ of our health and every part of our body.

    Professor Walker warned that a lack of sleep is (7) ____ to debilitating diseases such as Alzheimer’s, cancer, heart disease, obesity and diabetes. He warned that we are in a dangerous situation whereby we do not (8) ____ understand the very serious, "catastrophic" consequences of not (9) ____ eight hours a night. He gave several reasons why we are sleeping less. He said: "First, we (10) ____ the night. Light is a profound degrader of our sleep." He also blamed longer working hours and longer commuting times, a (11) ____ to be with friends more rather than sleep, mobile devices, and the increased availability of alcohol and caffeine. He also blamed (12) ____ and said: "We're a lonelier, more depressed society."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     aspect     (b)     compact     (c)     impact     (d)     respect    
    2. (a)     plague     (b)     vague     (c)     vogue     (d)     plaque    
    3. (a)     ill     (b)     unwell     (c)     sickness     (d)     disease    
    4. (a)     at     (b)     of     (c)     to     (d)     by    
    5. (a)     shorts     (b)     shorter     (c)     shorten     (d)     shorty    
    6. (a)     spectacle     (b)     retrospect     (c)     respect     (d)     aspect    
    7. (a)     links     (b)     linkage     (c)     linked     (d)     link    
    8. (a)     fuelling     (b)     fulfilling     (c)     full     (d)     fully    
    9. (a)     getting     (b)     gets     (c)     gotten     (d)     got    
    10. (a)     elected     (b)     electrified     (c)     electrocuted     (d)     electrify    
    11. (a)     reside     (b)     desire     (c)     sired     (d)     residual    
    12. (a)     anxious     (b)     anxiously     (c)     anxiety     (d)     axioms

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. having a sroiuse impact on health
    2. a "catastrophic sleep-misfortune uelpga"
    3. possibly falta diseases
    4. He noidencut that people who don't sleep…
    5. not sleeping enough ageinltvey impacts…
    6. every single cetpsa of our health

    Paragraph 2

    1. linked to blinaidigtte diseases
    2. heart disease, obesity and tebsdeia
    3. "catastrophic" enuneecsocqs
    4. Light is a oprndufo degrader of our sleep
    5. the increased iiavaytblail of alcohol
    6. He also blamed eatxnyi

    Put the text back together

    (    )     on health. Professor Matthew Walker from the Center for Human Sleep Science at the University of California warned

    (    )     times, a desire to be with friends more rather than sleep, mobile devices, and the increased

    (    )     reasons why we are sleeping less. He said: "First, we electrified the night. Light

    (    )     of sleep was putting people at risk from a large number of possibly fatal diseases. Professor Walker said people need

    (    )     life. Walker said the effect of not sleeping enough negatively impacts every single

    (    )     availability of alcohol and caffeine. He also blamed anxiety and said: "We're a lonelier, more depressed society."

    (    )     aspect of our health and every part of our body.

    (    )     heart disease, obesity and diabetes. He warned that we are in a dangerous situation whereby we do not fully

    (    )     is a profound degrader of our sleep." He also blamed longer working hours and longer commuting

    (  1  )     New research shows that many people are not sleeping enough and that this is having a serious impact

    (    )     that a "catastrophic sleep-misfortune plague" was putting people in danger of ill health. He said a continued lack

    (    )     understand the very serious, "catastrophic" consequences of not getting eight hours a night. He gave several

    (    )     eight hours sleep a night to stay healthy. He continued that people who don't sleep enough will have a shorter

    (    )     Professor Walker warned that a lack of sleep is linked to debilitating diseases such as Alzheimer’s, cancer,

    Put the words in the right order

    1. enough   people   Research  are   shows   not   that   sleeping   many   .
    2. impact   serious   a   having   is   This   health   on   .
    3. lack   was   at   continued   sleep   people   A   of   putting   risk   .
    4. enough   a   People   sleep   have   life   don't   will   shorter   who   .
    5. our   of   aspect   single   every   impacts   Negatively   health   .
    6. to   of   debilitating   sleep   diseases   is   A   linked   lack   .
    7. dangerous   we   situation   are   He   in   warned   a   that   .
    8. reasons   less   why   He   we   gave   are   several   sleeping   .
    9. profound   a   is   Light   sleep   our   of   degrader   .
    10. society"   depressed   more   ,   lonelier   a   "We're   said:   He   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    New research shows that many people are not sleeping / slept enough and that this is having a serious impact in / on health. Professor Matthew Walker from the Center for Human Sleep Science at the University of California warned what / that a "catastrophic sleep-misfortune plague" was putting people in / on danger of ill health. He said a continues / continued lack of sleep was putting people at risk from a large number / numeral of possibly fatal diseases. Professor Walker said people needing / need eight hours sleep a / the night to stay healthy. He continued that people who don't sleep enough will have a shorter / shorten life. Walker said the effect of not sleeping enough negatively impacts every single aspect / respect of our health and every part of our body.

    Professor Walker warned that a lack / slack of sleep is linked to debilitating diseases such as Alzheimer’s, cancer / cancerous, heart disease, obesity and diabetes. He warned that we are in a dangerously / dangerous situation whereby we do not fully / fulfilled understand the very serious, "catastrophic" consequences of not getting eight hours a night. He gave several / numeral reasons why we are sleeping less. He said: "First, we electrified / electrocuted the night. Light is a profound / profoundly degrader of our sleep." He also blamed longer working hours and longer computing / commuting times, a desire to be with friends more rather than sleep, mobile devices, and the increased availability / available of alcohol and caffeine. He also blamed anxiety and said: "We're a lonelier, more depression / depressed society."

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    N_w r_s__rch sh_ws th_t m_ny p__pl_ _r_ n_t sl__p_ng _n__gh _nd th_t th_s _s h_v_ng _ s_r___s _mp_ct _n h__lth. Pr_f_ss_r M_tth_w W_lk_r fr_m th_ C_nt_r f_r H_m_n Sl__p Sc__nc_ _t th_ _n_v_rs_ty _f C_l_f_rn__ w_rn_d th_t _ "c_t_str_ph_c sl__p-m_sf_rt_n_ pl_g__" w_s p_tt_ng p__pl_ _n d_ng_r _f _ll h__lth. H_ s__d _ c_nt_n__d l_ck _f sl__p w_s p_tt_ng p__pl_ _t r_sk fr_m _ l_rg_ n_mb_r _f p_ss_bly f_t_l d_s__s_s. Pr_f_ss_r W_lk_r s__d p__pl_ n__d __ght h__rs sl__p _ n_ght t_ st_y h__lthy. H_ c_nt_n__d th_t p__pl_ wh_ d_n't sl__p _n__gh w_ll h_v_ _ sh_rt_r l_f_. W_lk_r s__d th_ _ff_cts _f n_t sl__p_ng _n__gh n_g_t_v_ly _mp_cts _v_ry s_ngl_ _sp_ct _f __r h__lth _nd _v_ry p_rt _f __r b_dy.

    Pr_f_ss_r W_lk_r w_rn_d th_t _ l_ck _f sl__p _s l_nk_d t_ d_b_l_t_t_ng d_s__s_s s_ch _s _lzh__m_r’s, c_nc_r, h__rt d_s__s_, _b_s_ty _nd d__b_t_s. H_ w_rn_d th_t w_ _r_ _n _ d_ng_r__s s_t__t__n wh_r_by w_ d_ n_t f_lly _nd_rst_nd th_ v_ry s_r___s, "c_t_str_ph_c" c_ns_q__nc_s _f n_t g_tt_ng __ght h__rs _ n_ght. H_ g_v_ s_v_r_l r__s_ns why w_ _r_ sl__p_ng l_ss. H_ s__d: "F_rst, w_ _l_ctr_f__d th_ n_ght. L_ght _s _ pr_f__nd d_gr_d_r _f __r sl__p." H_ _ls_ bl_m_d l_ng_r w_rk_ng h__rs _nd l_ng_r c_mm_t_ng t_m_s, _ d_s_r_ t_ b_ w_th fr__nds m_r_ r_th_r th_n sl__p, m_b_l_ d_v_c_s, _nd th_ _ncr__s_d _v__l_b_l_ty _f _lc_h_l _nd c_ff__n_. H_ _ls_ bl_m_d _nx__ty _nd s__d: "W_'r_ _ l_n_l__r, m_r_ d_pr_ss_d s_c__ty."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    new research shows that many people are not sleeping enough and that this is having a serious impact on health professor matthew walker from the center for human sleep science at the university of california warned that a "catastrophic sleep-misfortune plague" was putting people in danger of ill health he said a continued lack of sleep was putting people at risk from a large number of possibly fatal diseases professor walker said people need eight hours sleep a night to stay healthy he continued that people who don't sleep enough will have a shorter life walker said the effect of not sleeping enough negatively impacts every single aspect of our health and every part of our body

    professor walker warned that a lack of sleep is linked to debilitating diseases such as alzheimer’s cancer heart disease obesity and diabetes he warned that we are in a dangerous situation whereby we do not fully understand the very serious "catastrophic" consequences of not getting eight hours a night he gave several reasons why we are sleeping less he said "first we electrified the night light is a profound degrader of our sleep" he also blamed longer working hours and longer commuting times a desire to be with friends more rather than sleep mobile devices and the increased availability of alcohol and caffeine he also blamed anxiety and said "we're a lonelier more depressed society"

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Newresearchshowsthatmanypeoplearenotsleepingenoughandthatt
    hisishavingaseriousimpactonhealth.ProfessorMatthewWalkerfromt
    heCenterforHumanSleepScienceattheUniversityofCaliforniawarned
    thata"catastrophicsleep-misfortuneplague"wasputtingpeopleindan
    gerofillhealth.Hesaidacontinuedlackofsleepwasputtingpeopleatriskf
    romalargenumberofpossiblyfataldiseases.ProfessorWalkersaidpeo
    pleneedeighthourssleepanighttostayhealthy.Hecontinuedthatpeopl
    ewhodon'tsleepenoughwillhaveashorterlife.Walkersaidtheeffectofn
    otsleepingenoughnegativelyimpactseverysingleaspectofourhealtha
    ndeverypartofourbody.ProfessorWalkerwarnedthatalackofsleepisli
    nkedtodebilitatingdiseasessuchasAlzheimer’s,cancer,heartdisease,
    obesityanddiabetes.Hewarnedthatweareinadangeroussituationwhe
    rebywedonotfullyunderstandtheveryserious,"catastrophic"consequ
    encesofnotgettingeighthoursanight.Hegaveseveralreasonswhywea
    resleepingless.Hesaid:"First,weelectrifiedthenight.Lightisaprofoun
    ddegraderofoursleep."Healsoblamedlongerworkinghoursandlonger
    commutingtimes,adesiretobewithfriendsmoreratherthansleep,mob
    iledevices,andtheincreasedavailabilityofalcoholandcaffeine.Healso
    blamedanxietyandsaid:"We'realonelier,moredepressedsociety."

    Free writing

    Write about sleep for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    Everybody can sleep eight hours a night. Discuss.

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    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

    3. SLEEP: Make a poster about a lack of sleep. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

    4. CATASTROPHE: Write a magazine article about a lack of sleep being a catastrophe. Include imaginary interviews with people who believe this and with people who do not believe this.

    Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).

    5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

    6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on sleep. Ask him/her three questions about sleep. Give him/her three of your ideas. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

    $US 9.99

    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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