How Sleep Makes Us Smarter and Healthier - Listening Exercise with Answers

PBS NEWSHOUR is a great source of clear, informative videos on a diversity of topics. You'll also find an option to "turn on captions" to help you understand if needed.

For a video you may enjoy on an activity we all love -- sleep!-- go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ye2_2osVCJQ .

Watch the ten-minute video once or twice and answer these two questions:

1. What is the main benefit of sleep discussed in the video?

2. What are the main physical problems associated with lack of sleep?

Then compare with my answers below.

If you missed any key points, listen once again to check.


Vocabulary:

"to reboot" - to restart (like a computer)

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1.

Thinking over a problem (or "rebooting the brain") during sleep/dreaming makes us more effective at problem-solving.

2.

Produce fewer antibodies
Process food less efficiently
Increased hunger
Increased signs of being pre-diabetic
Weight gain
Cardiovascular problems