单选题
It's Time to Pay Attention to Sleep, the New Health Frontier

    A. Your doctor could soon be prescribing crucial sleep as treatment for everything from obesity to mental health as experts say carving out time for sleep is just as important as diet and exercise.
    B. After being diagnosed with brain and lung cancer in 2011, Lynn Mitchell, 68, was averaging about an hour of solid sleep a night. Stressed about her treatments, she was paying for it in hours of lost sleep. The brain cancer was already affecting her mobility—Mitchell was often dizzy and would lose her balance—but the lack of sleep was making things worse. Even walking became increasingly difficult. Exhausted in the mornings, she was practically incoherent. When her doctors recommended she see a sleep therapist, Mitchell was relieved at how benign it sounded in comparison to the chemotherapy (化疗) she had undergone, which had side effects like nausea and fatigue.
    C. For about nine weeks, Mitchell worked with the sleep therapist to adjust her sleep habits. She got under the covers only when she was extremely tired. She quit watching TV in bed. She stopped drinking caffeinated coffee in the evening. She also learned breathing exercises to relax and help her drift off. It was all quite simple and common sense, and, most importantly, noninvasive and didn't require popping any pills.
    D. 'It's common knowledge that sleep is needed for day-to-day function,' says Dr. David Rapoport, director of the Sleep Medicine Program at NYU School of Medicine. 'What isn't common knowledge is that it really matters—it's not just cosmetic.' Rapoport has long seen people seek sleep therapy because they're chronically tired or suffering from insomnia (失眠), but an increasing number of patients are being referred to his center for common diseases, disorders, and mental health.
    E. Researchers have known for some time that sleep is critical for weight maintenance and hormone balance. And too little sleep is linked to everything from diabetes to heart disease to depression. Recently, the research on sleep has been overwhelming, with mounting evidence that it plays a role in nearly every aspect of health. Beyond chronic illnesses, a child's behavioral problems at school could be rooted in mild sleep apnea (睡眠呼吸中止症). And studies have shown children with ADHD (注意力缺损多动障碍) are more likely to get insufficient sleep. A recent study published in the journal SLEEP found a link between older men with poor sleep quality and cognitive decline. Another study out this week shows sleep is essential in early childhood for development, learning, and the formation and retention of memories. Dr. Allan Rechtschaffen, a pioneer of sleep research at the University of Chicago, once said, 'If sleep does not serve an absolutely vital function, then it is the biggest mistake the evolutionary process ever made.'
    F. But to many of us, sleep is easily sacrificed, especially since lack of it isn't seen as life threatening. Over time, sleep deprivation can have serious consequences, but we mostly sacrifice a night of sleep here and there, and always say that we'll 'catch up'. Luckily, it is possible to make up for sleep debt (though it can take a very long time), but most Americans are still chronically sleep deprived.
    G. While diet and exercise have been a part of public health messaging for decades, doctors and health advocates are now beginning to argue that getting quality sleep may be just as important for overall health. 'Sleep is probably easier to change than diet or exercise,' says Dr. Michael Grandner, a sleep researcher at the University of Pennsylvania. 'It may also give you more of an immediate reward if it helps you get through your day.' And while there's more evidence linking diet and exercise as influential health factors, sleep is probably more important in terms of brain and hormonal function, Grandner says. 'Among a small group of sleep researchers, if it is always been said that eating, exercise, and sleep are the three pillars of health,' says Dr. Rapoport.
    H. In our increasingly professional and digital lives, where there are now more things than ever competing for the horns in our day, carving out time for sleep is not only increasingly difficult, but also more necessary. Using technology before bed stimulates us and interferes with our sleep, yet 95% of Americans use some type of electronics like a computer, TV, or cell phone at least a few nights a week within the hour before we go to bed, according to a 2011 National Sleep Foundation survey. 'Many doctors, lawyers, and executives stay up late and get up early and burn the candle at both ends,' says Dr. Richard Lang, chair of Preventative Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic. 'Making sure they pay attention to sleep in the same way they pay attention to diet and exercise is crucial.'
    I. To some, sleep has become a powerful medicine to mental health. Arianna Huffington, president and editor-in-chief of the Huffington Post Media Group, advocates that sleep is the secret to success, happiness, and peak performance. After passing out a few years ago from exhaustion and cracking a cheekbone (颧骨) against her desk, Huffington has become something of a sleep promoter. In a 2010 TED Women conference, Huffington said, 'The way to a more productive, more inspired, more joyful life is getting enough sleep.' Research linking high-quality sleep with better mental health is growing; a 2013 study found that treating depressed patients for insomnia can double their likelihood of overcoming the disorder.
    J. While 70% of physicians agree that inadequate sleep is a major health problem, only 43% counsel their patients on the benefits of adequate sleep. But there's growing pressure on primary care physicians to address, and even prescribe, sleep during routine check-ups. In a recent study published in the journal The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, the researchers concluded that health professionals should prescribe sleep to prevent and treat metabolic disorders like obesity and diabetes. And overlooking sleep as a major health issue can also have deadly consequences. It was recently reported that the operator of the Metro-North train that derailed in New York last year, killing four people and injuring more than 70, had an undiagnosed case of sleep apnea.
    K. Sleep therapies can range from simply learning new lifestyle behaviors to promote sleep, to figuring out how to position oneself in bed. More drastic measures involve surgery to open up an airway passage for people suffering from disorders like sleep apnea. Sleeping pills can be prescribed too, to get much needed rest, but sleep therapists tend to favor other approaches because of possible dependencies developing.
    L. A large part of reaping the benefits of sleep is known when you're not getting the right amount. According to a 2013 Gallup survey, 40% of Americans get less than the recommended seven to eight hours a night. While the typical person still logs about 6-8 hours of sleep per night, that's a drop from the 7.9 Americans were getting in the 1940s.
    M. When it comes to adequate sleep, it's much more personalized than previously thought. Some people feel great on five hours of rest, while others need ten. The best way to determine if you're getting the right amount, doctors say, is to find out how many hours of sleep you need to be able to wake up without an alarm and feel rested, refreshed, and energetic throughout the day.
    N. Since reforming her sleep habits, Mitchell has been clocking up to seven hours of sleep a night for the past two months. 'I'm alert in the morning, my balance is better, and I feel peppier,' says Mitchell. Getting enough sleep has helped her better deal with her cancers, and its symptoms. The best news is that she recently found out that her brain tumor is shrinking, and there are fewer cancerous spots on her lungs.
问答题     A new study found that poor sleep quality could lead to significant cognitive decline in older men.
 
【正确答案】E
【答案解析】由题干关键词poor sleep quality,cognitive decline和older men定位到E段。 由定位句可知,最近发表在《睡眠》期刊上的一项研究发现,老年人睡眠不足和其认知能力下降有关。题干中的lead to对应原文中的a link between...and...,故答案为E。
问答题     According to a sleep researcher, it's easier to change your sleep habits than to change your diet or exercise.
 
【正确答案】G
【答案解析】由题干关键词sleep researcher和diet or exercise定位到G段。 由定位句可知,宾夕法尼亚大学睡眠研究员迈克尔·格兰德纳博士认为,改变睡眠习惯要比改变饮食和运动习惯容易多了。题干是对定位句的同义转述,故答案为G。
问答题     Getting a good night's sleep is important for maintaining mental health and enhances the treatment of the depressed patients with insomnia.
 
【正确答案】I
【答案解析】由题干关键词mental health和depressed patients with insomnia定位到I段。 由定位句可知,越来越多的研究表明健康的心理与高质量的睡眠有关。2013年的一项研究发现,通过充足的睡眠来治疗抑郁症患者的失眠情况,其治愈的可能性会翻一番。题干中的enhances the treatment of对应原文中的double their likelihood of overcoming the disorder,故答案为I。
问答题     It's concluded that better sleep should be prescribed to treat metabolic disorders such as obesity.
 
【正确答案】J
【答案解析】由题干关键词metabolic disorders和obesity定位到J段。 由定位句可知,最近发表在《柳叶刀糖尿病及内分泌》期刊上的一项研究中,研究人员得出结论认为,健康专业人员应在处方中规定人们要好好睡觉,以此预防和治疗如肥胖和糖尿病等代谢性疾病。题干是对原文的同义转述,故答案为J。
问答题     Many people sacrifice sleep for the other priorities in their life, which is simply not good for their long-term health.
 
【正确答案】F
【答案解析】由题干关键词sacrifice sleep定位到F段。 由定位句可知,大多数人都会轻易地牺牲掉睡眠,主要是由于睡少了不会对生命造成威胁。长此以往,缺乏睡眠会造成严重的后果。题干中的long-term对应原文中的Over time,故答案为F。
问答题     Sleep therapy is increasingly recommended for the treatment of common illnesses, disorders and mental health.
 
【正确答案】D
【答案解析】由题干关键词Sleep therapy及disorders and mental health定位到D段。 由定位句可知,如今越来越多患有普通疾病、紊乱或心理健康疾病的人向大卫·拉波波特寻求睡眠疗法。题干中的is...recommended对应原文中的being referred to,故答案为D。
问答题     Some of the common sleep therapies include lifestyle advice, sleeping position adjustment, surgery and medication, etc.
 
【正确答案】K
【答案解析】由题干关键词sleep therapies,sleeping position和surgery定位到K段。 由K段可知,睡眠治疗的范围很广,涵盖了从简单地学习新的生活方式以改善睡眠到找出正确的入睡姿势。对于那些患有睡眠呼吸中止症等睡眠紊乱的人而言,医生会采取一些更为激烈的措施,比如通过手术给他们打开一条呼吸通道。医生还可能开一些安眠药使病人得到充足的休息。题干是对该段的概括和总结,故答案为K。
问答题     The amount of adequate sleep varies among individuals, which is a little different from previous thought.
 
【正确答案】M
【答案解析】由题干关键词adequate sleep定位到M段。 由定位句可知,充足的睡眠时间要比之前人们所认为的更具有个人特质。题干中的varies among individuals对应原文中的personalized,故答案为M。
问答题     The use of some electronic devices before bedtime is associated with taking longer to fall asleep and disrupts sleep.
 
【正确答案】H
【答案解析】由题干关键词electronic devices和disrupts定位到原文画线处。由定位句可知,2011年国家睡眠协会调查表明,睡前使用电子设备会刺激我们并影响睡眠,但95%的美国人每周都有几天在睡前使用电脑、电视、手机等各种电子设备的习惯,而且一用就是好几个小时,然后才去睡觉。题干中的taking longer to fall asleep对应原文中的stimulates;disrupts对应原文中的interferes with,故答案为H。
问答题     A cancer patient has not only found herself more refreshed but her tumors decreased after modifying her sleep habits.
 
【正确答案】N
【答案解析】由题干关键词cancer patient和sleep habits定位到N段。 N段提到,米歇尔自从改变睡眠习惯以来,在过去的两个月每晚最多能睡7小时,她说道,“我早上十分清醒,平衡性好了许多,而且精力充沛。”充足的睡眠使她能更好地对抗癌症和其症状。最好的消息是,近来她发现她的脑部肿瘤正在萎缩,肺部的癌细胞点也不断减少。题干中的A项的cancer patient指的是Mitchell,题干是对定位段的概述和总结,故答案为N。