Examen PAU Inglés Resuelto: Do You Sleep Enough? y Redacciones

PAU 2009 (Modelo) - Examen de Inglés

Reading Text: Do You Sleep Enough?

A good night's sleep is becoming ever more elusive for the average American, and it's a problem that plagues us at all ages, from infancy to adulthood...

Questions and Solutions

1. Are the following statements TRUE or FALSE? Copy the evidence from the text. (No marks are given for only TRUE or FALSE).

• a) Most Americans find it easy to rest well at night.
  FALSE: "A good night's sleep is becoming ever more elusive for the average American and it's a problem that plagues us at all ages, from infancy to adulthood."
• b) Researchers did not require any help from families to carry out the study on the effects of sleep in children.
  FALSE: "The youngsters' mothers were asked to record the amount of time the children slept each night and fill out questionnaires about their child's hyperactivity, inattention and daytime sleepiness."

(Puntuación máxima: 2 puntos)

2. In your own words and based on the ideas in the text, answer the following questions. Do not copy from the text.

• a) Why is the journal Sleep mentioned in the text?
  It is mentioned because it is the one which published three articles about the problem of sleeplessness both in children and in adult people.
• b) Give two differences found in the study between children who slept enough and those who did not.
  Short-sleeping children show poorer results in mental and language tests than those who sleep the recommended hours a day, and they are also more likely to suffer from hyperactivity.

(Puntuación máxima: 2 puntos)

3. Find the words in the text that mean:

• a) Deal with (paragraph 1): tackle
• b) Insomnia (paragraph 1): sleeplessness
• c) Quantity (paragraph 2): amount
• d) Crucial (paragraph 3): critical

(Puntuación máxima: 1 punto)

4. Complete the following sentences. Use the appropriate form of the word in brackets when given.

• a) Last year, 2,500 children were asked how often they were woken up at night by incoming text messages on their mobile phone.
• b) Adolescents who get a good night's sleep do better in school than those who don't get enough.
• c) It seems that children and teenagers under the age of 18 are more vulnerable to radiation coming from mobile phones because their immune systems are not strong.
  Author: Patricia Herrero Pinilla
• d) Last month I spent (spend) too much talking on my mobile phone, but I usually spend an average of €20 each month.

(Puntuación máxima: 2 puntos)

5. Write about 100 to 150 words on one of the following topics:

• Option a: Do entertainment gadgets, such as iPods and game consoles, prevent young people from getting enough sleep? Discuss.
• Option b: What things keep you awake and why do they worry you?

(Puntuación máxima: 3 puntos)

Model Compositions / Redacciones Corregidas

Option A: Do entertainment gadgets, such as iPods and game consoles, prevent young people from getting enough sleep? Discuss.

As an introduction, I would like to say that I am a user of these products, and therefore I do not sleep the recommended eight hours because I am on my laptop at night. This is a problem of society in general, as people do not get enough sleep. Then they do not perform well at work; therefore, students have lower grades.

We should provide a solution for them, but we cannot take away their free time. During the day we are at school, and afterwards we listen to music or talk with our friends, so we do not sleep well. In short, I think that products like MP3 players, video games, or computers are bad only if we abuse them, as we end up sleeping less time than recommended because we have no time during the rest of the day for fun.

Option B: What things keep you awake and why do they worry you?

First, I would like to explain that I do not sleep well all the time. I am very concerned, especially in recent months. I lose sleep thinking about exams and grades. Also, sometimes I have problems with my family and it is difficult to cope. It is the constant pressure to pass everything, which means I cannot go out with friends. On weekends I usually sleep more, but now I have to study constantly. I am eager to receive my grades so I can finally rest, and hopefully I will pass everything.

Other things that make me lose sleep are nightmares. Sometimes I have many at once; other times I sleep soundly, without dreaming. I really hate having nightmares because the sleeplessness makes it impossible for me to sleep. When this happens, I listen to relaxing music. In conclusion, if I were not so worried, I would sleep better. What I have to do is relax and not overthink things.