File Test 6 A

File Test 6

Grammar, Vocabulary, and Pronunciation A

GRAMMAR

VOCABULARY

PRONUNCIATION

Reading and Writing A

READING

Read the article about music and insomnia. Five sentences have been removed. Which sentence (A–F) fits each gap (1–5)? There is one extra sentence which you do not need to use. Music beats insomnia Everyone knows that a good night’s sleep is essential for our physical and mental well-being. Sleep is so much more than a way of restoring energy after a busy day. It is a state during which the body repairs itself, stores information, and secures experiences in our memories. But in our busy world, full of technological distractions and noise and light pollution, it’s difficult to get that optimum eight hours of quality sleep we all need. (----1----) However, those whose sleep is disrupted for over a month, are classified as suffering from insomnia, a condition that affects approximately 30% of adults at some point in their lives. The effects of insomnia are unpleasant, ranging from tiredness, difficulty concentrating, and memory loss, to more serious health problems such as diabetes and obesity. It’s not surprising, therefore, that when insomnia hits, many people reach for the medicine cabinet. But this is not an ideal solution because taking regular sleep medication can lead to harmful effects on the body. So, what’s the alternative? Music has long been associated with relaxation. (----2----) Many people listen to music before bed or while drifting off to sleep, but the positive effects have been mainly anecdotal and few major studies have been done to date. So, in an attempt find a safer alternative to sleep medication, a team of experts from the University of Sheffield’s Music and Wellbeing research unit collaborated with researchers from the Sleep and Cognition Laboratory at the University of Lincoln and Goldsmiths University of London on an important music-sleep project. The first phase of the project was to survey over 650 people with varying sleep habits. The first question was designed to find out what type of music people listen to when they are nodding off, and why they believe that music improves their quality of sleep. Interestingly, the most popular musician for assisting sleep turned out to be Bach. Other popular choices included Mozart, Ed Sheeran, and Cold Play. (----3----) Overall these included 14 different music genres and the songs of 545 different music artists. The second question asked the participants why they thought that listening to their chosen music helped them sleep. While the obvious answer might have been that it helps them to relax, the responses showed that music fulfilled a range of functions and were different for each person. (----4----) Some participants used music as a distraction from background noise such as traffic, to prevent worrying thoughts, or to fill silence in order to provide a sense of security. Others just said they were used to the routine and couldn’t sleep without it. The researchers concluded that there is no single solution for using music to improve sleep. Each individual needs to choose the music that works for them and use it in the way that works best for them. The researchers are determined to translate that into an alternative musical treatment for insomnia. The question is how? The next phase of the research will involve expanding the survey to cover as many populations and cultures as possible. (----5----) The aim of the research will be to ultimately develop personalized music selection technology, which could be combined with advice on sleep strategies to create a complete treatment package for people who need to restore their

sleep patterns. Until this new technology has been developed, however, the best advice is to avoid spending money on the ‘sleep CDs’ that are available to buy and to trust your own musical choices. Sweet dreams! A For some, it slowed racing thoughts, improved focus, and cleared the mind, making the body more ready for sleep. B The music that this future survey finds to be most effective overall will then be tested using advanced sleep recording techniques. C We all have the odd sleepless night. D Historical anecdotes name Bach as popular listening material for those suffering from sleep and chronic health problems. E This helped more than half of the people in the study wind down and prepare for sleep. F However, researchers were amazed at the incredibly wide variety of responses. Reading total 10

WRITING

You recently bought an album by your favourite artist. Write an email to your friend telling him / her about it.

 tell him / her what kind of music your favourite artist makes  explain why you like that kind of music  say whether the album is as good as you had hoped it would be. Writing total 10 Reading and Writing total 20

Listening and Speaking A

LISTENING

F) what each speaker says caused the problem. Use the letters only once. There is one extra letter which you do not need to use. A an animal B a food allergy C sunlight D what she was sleeping on E jet lag F noise pollution Speaker 1: [ ] Speaker 2: [ ] Speaker 3: [ ] Speaker 4: [ ] Speaker 5: [ ]

catch up on sleep at the weekend / sleep well if they exercise.

SPEAKING

‘Music is essential to our health and well-being.’ Speaking total 20 Listening and Speaking total 30