Vocabulary
What does the word “drift” mean in paragraph 3?
A move slowly without control
B jump suddenly upward
C stop working completely
D move in a straight line quickly
A move slowly without control
What is a central idea of paragraphs 12–13?
A Dreams can help the brain deal with emotions and problems.
B Dreams usually repeat events exactly as they happened.
C Dreams make people forget their memories.
D Dreams happen only when people are scared.
A Dreams can help the brain deal with emotions and problems.
Which detail best shows that the brain is active during sleep?
A “Your eyes shut, and your brain ignores ordinary sounds.”
B “Your body repairs itself and grows strong.”
C “During REM sleep, the brain is making connections.”
D “Most people take about 20 minutes to fall asleep.”
C “During REM sleep, the brain is making connections.”
What does the phrase “zone out” most nearly mean in paragraph 1?
A fall asleep
B become very active
C become confused
D become angry
A fall asleep
Which sentence from the article best supports the idea that sleep helps memory?
A “Your body repairs itself and grows strong.”
B “Slow waves move important things you learned today into long-term memory.”
C “Your heart slows down and you breathe more slowly.”
D “Your eyes dart back and forth behind closed eyelids.”
B “Slow waves move important things you learned today into long-term memory.”
What does the word “slack” mean in paragraph 8?
A very tight
B completely relaxed
C very heavy
D slightly painful
B completely relaxed
What is a central idea of the section “Dream Yourself Smart”?
A Dreams only happen during deep sleep.
B Sleep includes several stages that help the brain learn.
C Dreams are usually strange and confusing.
D People remember every dream they have.
B Sleep includes several stages that help the brain learn.
Which detail best explains why sleep helps learning?
A “Your heart slows down and you breathe more slowly.”
B “Slow waves move important things from short-term memory into long-term memory.”
C “Most people fall asleep after lying down.”
D “Your eyes dart back and forth behind closed eyelids.”
B “Slow waves move important things from short-term memory into long-term memory.”
What does the phrase “shifts gears” most nearly mean in paragraph 8?
A changes direction
B stops working
C changes to a different stage
D moves very quickly
C changes to a different stage
Which sentence best supports the idea that dreams help solve problems?
A “All animals sleep.”
B “Dreams can get pretty weird.”
C “The brain can try out solutions to problems that are bothering you.”
D “You cycle through stages of sleep every 90 minutes.”
C “The brain can try out solutions to problems that are bothering you.”
What does the word “bundles” mean in paragraph 9?
A mixes things together
B hides something carefully
C gathers things into one group
D throws things away
C gathers things into one group
What is a central idea of the article?
A Sleep allows the brain to rest completely.
B Dreams are the most important part of sleep.
C Sleep helps the brain organize memories and learn.
D Sleeping longer always improves memory.
C Sleep helps the brain organize memories and learn.
Which sentence best supports the idea that dreams help people improve skills?
A “The brain can try out solutions to problems.”
B “The players who started out being worst at the game had the most dreams about it.”
C “Dreams can get pretty weird.”
D “You cycle through stages of sleep every 90 minutes.”
B “The players who started out being worst at the game had the most dreams about it.”
What does the phrase “cycles through stages” most nearly mean in paragraph 10?
A repeats the stages again and again
B stops each stage suddenly
C skips several stages
D changes stages once
A repeats the stages again and again
Which sentence best supports the idea that REM sleep helps people learn new skills?
A “REM stands for rapid eye movement.”
B “Players who got their REM sleep did much better at the game.”
C “People sleep about eight hours each night.”
D “Your muscles go completely slack.”
B “Players who got their REM sleep did much better at the game.”
What does the word “vivid” mean in paragraph 10?
A very clear and detailed
B quiet and silent
C short and confusing
D slow and calm
A very clear and detailed
Which sentence best describes how the chart adds to the information in the article?
A It explains how sleep helps keep the body healthy.
B It shares the steps to fall asleep easily.
C It offers facts about how the body reacts to sleep.
D It compares being awake to being asleep.
C It offers facts about how the body reacts to sleep.
How does the author organize the information in paragraph 14?
A by stating a problem with sleep and then presenting a solution
B by sharing a cause-and-effect situation when sleep is interrupted
C by explaining the steps to learning a new game
D by comparing how long people dream at night
B by sharing a cause-and-effect situation when sleep is interrupted
What does the phrase “story-making part of your brain” suggest in paragraph 12?
A the brain creates stories from memories
B the brain forgets experiences
C the brain records sounds
D the brain controls breathing
A the brain creates stories from memories
Which sentence best supports the idea that sleep is necessary for life?
A “Dreams might be a side-effect of memory making.”
B “Sleep is so useful that all animals do it.”
C “Most people take about 20 minutes to fall asleep.”
D “Your eyes shut when you sleep.”
B “Sleep is so useful that all animals do it.”
What does the word “muffles” mean in paragraph 3?
A changes to a slow speed
B moves to a new stage
C causes things to get darker
D makes things difficult to notice
D makes things difficult to notice
What is a central idea of the section “All Through the Night . . .”?
A Falling asleep takes less than thirty minutes for most people.
B Odd feelings while falling asleep are normal.
C Time passes differently while falling asleep.
D Falling asleep is an experience that involves the whole body
D Falling asleep is an experience that involves the whole body
Based on the article, how does REM sleep help people? A The eyes move back and forth while they are closed.
B The brain links experiences and memories.
C People can begin having strange dreams.
D People sleep more deeply when it is almost morning.
B The brain links experiences and memories.
What does the phrase “cleans house” most nearly mean in paragraph 10?
A removes old memories
B organizes information
C repairs the brain
D stops dreaming
B organizes information
Which detail best expresses a claim the author makes about sleep?
A “Sleep is so useful that all animals do it. And without it, waking life would be impossible.” (paragraph 2)
B “As you slip into sleep, your heart slows down and you breathe more slowly.” (paragraph 4)
C “During deep sleep, long, slow waves of electrical impulses move through the brain.” (paragraph 7)
D “In the next stage of sleep, your muscles go completely slack. Your body doesn’t move at all.” (paragraph 8)
A “Sleep is so useful that all animals do it. And without it, waking life would be impossible.” (paragraph 2)