Sleep Study on Modern-Day Hunter-Gatherers Dispels Popular Notions

Passage preview

The sleep troubles common in modern life have long been blamed on our industrial society, from the city lights, long work hours and commutes, to caffeine and the Internet. Sleep researchers often look back on a time when humans were able to get more rest by sleeping and waking to the rhythms of the sun. It turns out that may not be quite right. In fact, our ancestors may not have been getting the recommended eight hours of sleep, either.

Vocabulary from this passage

10 words worth learning before you sit the test, each with the sentence it appears in.

circadian rhythm noun

Natural, internal processes that regulate the sleep-wake cycle and repeat roughly every twenty-four hours

Tribespeople maintained their circadian rhythms by waking consistently around the time of the daily sunrise.

dispel verb

To make a doubt, feeling, or belief disappear or be proved false through evidence

New research into ancient sleeping habits helps to dispel popular myths about industrial society.

document verb

To record information in detail for the purpose of establishing facts or providing scientific evidence

Scientists have documented a significant drop in human energy levels during the mid-afternoon period.

geographic isolation noun

The physical separation of populations due to distance or barriers, preventing social or genetic exchange

Despite their geographic isolation, the three tribes exhibited remarkably similar daily activity cycles.

mimic verb

To imitate or replicate certain conditions or behaviors, often to achieve a desired experimental result

Medical professionals suggest that mimicking aspects of the natural environment can help treat various sleep disorders.

obesity noun

A complex medical condition characterized by an excessive amount of body fat that increases health risks

The study questions whether lack of sleep is the primary cause of obesity in industrialized nations.

physical makeup noun

The internal biological and physiological structure that determines the characteristic qualities of a human being

Evidence suggests that human sleep habits are central to the physical makeup of our species.

preindustrial adjective

Relating to a social or economic system that has not yet undergone industrialization

Researchers studied preindustrial societies to understand how humans slept before the invention of electricity.

sleep efficiency noun

The ratio of the total time spent asleep to the total amount of time spent in bed

Modern urban dwellers often have a sleep efficiency comparable to that of traditional hunter-gatherer tribes.

suppress verb

To forcibly prevent the development, action, or expression of a natural process or impulse

It was previously believed that modern work schedules suppress the natural human desire for afternoon naps.

Answers with explanations

1. 1. TRUE

   The statement claims scientists study these societies because their sleep patterns are **assumed to be similar** to humans **more than 10,000 years ago**. The text confirms this by stating they "are **thought to sleep the way** humans did more than 10,000 years ago." Answer: TRUE.

2. 2. NOT GIVEN

   The statement asks if the **medical devices** were **especially designed** for humid conditions. While the text mentions the researchers travelled to "humid remote locations" and "used medical devices", it provides no information on whether the devices were specifically designed for those conditions. Answer: NOT GIVEN.

3. 2-3: fixed prices

   2: The statement asks if the **medical devices** were **especially designed** for humid conditions. While the text mentions the researchers travelled to "humid remote locations" and "used medical devices", it provides no information on whether the devices were specifically designed for those conditions. Answer: NOT GIVEN.

   3: The statement claims tribespeople stayed **longer in bed** than inhabitants of **industrialised regions**. The passage says they spend 6.9 to 8.5 hours in bed "Like many of us," but it does not state that this duration is actually longer than people living in industrialised regions. Answer: NOT GIVEN.

4. 3. NOT GIVEN

   The statement claims tribespeople stayed **longer in bed** than inhabitants of **industrialised regions**. The passage says they spend 6.9 to 8.5 hours in bed "Like many of us," but it does not state that this duration is actually longer than people living in industrialised regions. Answer: NOT GIVEN.

5. 3-4: C

   3: The statement claims tribespeople stayed **longer in bed** than inhabitants of **industrialised regions**. The passage says they spend 6.9 to 8.5 hours in bed "Like many of us," but it does not state that this duration is actually longer than people living in industrialised regions. Answer: NOT GIVEN.

   4: The statement claims **Jerome Siegel believes** that **environment and culture** have **little effect** on sleep. The text explicitly supports this, noting Siegel says evidence suggests sleep habits "may not be environmental or cultural", aligning directly with the question's premise. Answer: TRUE.

6. 4. TRUE

   The statement claims **Jerome Siegel believes** that **environment and culture** have **little effect** on sleep. The text explicitly supports this, noting Siegel says evidence suggests sleep habits "may not be environmental or cultural", aligning directly with the question's premise. Answer: TRUE.

7. 5. energy

   The blank requires a noun describing what drops in the afternoon. The text explicitly states that scientists have documented "people's **energy** often falls in the mid-afternoon". The word fits grammatically and matches the meaning perfectly.

8. 6. summer

   The blank requires a noun indicating a time period or season when napping was more common. The text contrasts 7 percent of winter days with 22 percent of **summer** days, demonstrating that naps occurred significantly more frequently during the summer.

9. 7. short

   The blank requires an adjective describing the type of naps the devices failed to detect. The passage explains that because the devices were only good at detecting longer naps, they likely missed naps "that were **short**".

10. 8. fires

    The blank requires a plural noun that the tribespeople had while staying awake. The text confirms they stayed awake several hours after sunset and notes that "All three tribes had **fires** going". The word fits the grammar and context.

11. 9. sunrise

    The blank needs a noun indicating the time of day they woke up. The text explicitly mentions that the tribespeople had a tendency to wake up around the time of **sunrise** (between an hour before and an hour after).

12. 10. temperature

    The blank requires a noun that influenced sleep patterns almost as much as light did. The text states that the scientists investigated the "significance of **temperature**" and found that it "played a big role" and was "somewhat less important than light".

13. 11. sleeplessness

    The blank requires a noun that very few tribespeople suffered from. The text directly states that "almost none of them were troubled by **sleeplessness**," which fits the grammatical requirement and the meaning of the summary sentence perfectly.

14. 12. overweight

    The blank requires an adjective describing a physical condition the tribespeople did not have. The text notes their higher physical fitness and explicitly states that "Not a single one is **overweight**."

15. 13. hearts

    The blank needs a plural noun. The sentence requires something the tribespeople had that was "stronger" or "healthier" than industrialised populations. The text confirms that "They also tended to have healthier **hearts**."

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