The current policies aim at a ________ in the rise of temperatures by the end of the century.
The current policies aim at a ________ in the rise of temperatures by the end of the century.
Hard Lesson in Sleep for Teenagers
By Jane E. Brody October 20, 2014
Few Americans these days get the hours of sleep optimal for their age, but experts agree that teenagers are more likely to fall short than anyone else.
Researchers report that the average adolescent needs eight and a half to nine and a half hours of sleep each night. However, in a poll taken in 2006 by the National Sleep Foundation, less than 20 percent reported getting that much rest on school nights. With the profusion of personal electronics, the current percentage is believed to be even worse. A study in Fairfax, Va., found that only 6 percent of children in the 10th grade and only 3 percent in the 12th grade get the recommended amount of sleep. Two in three teens were found to be severely sleep-deprived, losing two or more hours of sleep every night. The causes can be biological, behavioral or environmental. The effect on the well-being of adolescents — on their health and academic potential — can be profound.
Insufficient sleep in adolescence increases the risks of high blood pressure and heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and obesity, said Dr. Owens, pediatric sleep specialist at Children's National Health System in Washington. Sleeplessness is also linked to risk-taking behavior, depression, suicidal ideation and car accidents. Insufficient sleep also impairs judgment, decision-making skills and the ability to curb impulses, which are "in a critical stage of development in adolescence," Dr. Owens said. With the current intense concern about raising academic achievement, it is worth noting that a study by Kyla Wahlstrom of 9,000 students in eight Minnesota public high schools showed that starting school a half-hour later resulted in an hour's more sleep a night and an increase in the students' grade point averages and standardized test scores.
When children reach puberty, a shift in circadian rhythm makes it harder for them to fall asleep early enough to get the requisite number of hours and still make it to school on time. A teenager’s sleep-wake cycle can shift as much as two hours, making it difficult to fall asleep before 11 p.m. If school starts at 8 or 8:30, it is not possible to get enough sleep. Based on biological sleep needs, a teenager who goes to sleep at 11 p.m, should be getting up around 8 a.m.
Adding to the adolescent shift in circadian rhythm are myriad electronic distractions that cut further into sleep time, like smartphones, iPods, computers and televisions. A stream of text messages, tweets, and postings on Facebook and Instagram keep many awake long into the night.
Parents should consider instituting an electronic curfew and perhaps even forbid sleep-distracting devices in the bedroom, Dr . Owens said. Beyond the bedroom, many teenagers lead overscheduled lives that can lead to short nights.
Also at risk are many teenagers from low-income and minority families, where overcrowding, excessive noise and safety concerns can make it difficult to get enough restful sleep, the academy statement said. Trying to compensate for sleep deprivation on weekends can further compromise an adolescent's sleep-wake cycle by inducing permanent jet lag. Sleeping late on weekends shifts their internal clock, making it even harder to get to sleep Sunday night and wake up on time for school Monday morning.
(Adapted and abridged from http://www.nytimes.com)
Which is the correct option to complete the paragraph below?
The power of a thank-you note
Thank-you notes might seem old-fashioned ________ there's plenty of value to be found in the tradition. ________ a study by Accountemps, just 24% of job applicants send thank-you notes after interviews - ________ 80% of hiring managers who receive them say they are useful in evaluating the potential of applicants. Proponents of thank-you notes say they are an inexpensive way to strengthen a relationship ________ show the applicant cares about the job.
(Adapted from https://www.linkedin.com)
John: What’s the matter? Mary: My notebook isn’t working properly. I must call the technician and________ immediately.
How________ do YOU look at your phone?
The average user now picks up their device more than 1,500 times a week.
(http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech)
Read text V to answer question .
TEXT V
There are no excuses for racism.
Racism take$ many forms and can happen 1 __ many places. lt includes prejudice, discrimination ar hatred directed at someone because of their colour, ethnicity or national origin.
People often associate racism with acts of abuse or harassment. However, it doesn't need to involve violent or intimidating behaviour. Take racial name-calling and jokes. Or consider situations when people may be excluded from groups or activities because of where they come 2 _______.
Racism can be revealed through people's actions as well as their altitudes. !t can also be reflected in systems and institutions. But sometímes it may not be revealed at ali. Not ali racism is obvious. For examp!e, someone may look 3 _______ a list of job applicants and decide not to interview people with certain surnames.
Racism is more than just words, beliefs and actions. lt includes ali the barriers that prevent people from enjoying dignity and equality because of their race.
Read the following sentence.
"People often associate racism with acts of abuse or harassment."
The underlined word "often" can be replaced by
Dayse: I haven't seen The King's Speech yet. You: (1).
After a particularly long week in Shanghai and Beijing, several of u s ________ on a United flight direct to Chicago on a late Friday afternoon. We ________ at the airport only to find out the company________ the flight right before takeoff.
(Adapted from https://www.linkedin.com/pulse)
John is a very ____________ teacher. Attractive andprofessional-looking, he has __________ interpersonal skillsand is _________ understood by students and parents alike. Hecarries out every responsibility ____________ and in a timelymanner.
(Adapted from http://www.writeexpress.com).
Additional Factors That Affect Sleep Comfort
By Richard A. Staehler, MD
The type of mattress one uses is not the only factor for patients with pain and sleep difficulty. Many other factors need to be considered that may affect sleep, including;
- medication side effects;
- irregular sleep patterns;
- caffeine/alcohol/tobacco use;
- sleep apnea;
- anxiety/stress.
If comfort is not the only thing making sleep difficult, it is advisable for the patient to consult his or her family physician to discuss other possible causes and treatments for sleeplessness.
If anyone experiences significant or persistent back pain, there may be an underlying back condition that has nothing to do with the mattress. It is always advisable for people with back pain to consult with a health care provider for a thorough exam, diagnosis, and treatment program.
As a reminder, sleep comfort is first and foremost a matter of personal preference. No one should expect that switching mattresses or beds will cure their lower back pain, and changes in the type of bed or mattress used should be made solely for the sake of comfort,
(Adapted from http;//www.spine-health,com/wellness/sleep/additional-factors -affect -sleep-comfort )
Based on the text below, answer the question.
Facebook deserted by millions of users in biggest markets
Facebook has lost millions of users per month in its biggest markets. In the last six months, Facebook has lost nearly 9m monthly visitors in the US and 2m in the UK. Studies suggest that its expansion in the US, UK and other major European countries has peaked. In the last month, the world's largest social network has lost 6m US visitors, a 4% fall, according to analysis firm Socialbakers. In the UK, 1.4m fewer users visited in March, a fali of 4.5%. Users are also turning off in Canada, Spain, France, Germany and Japan, where Facebook is extremely popular.
Alternative social networks have seen surges in popularity with younger people. Instagram, the photo-sharing site, got 30m new users in the 18 months before Facebook bought the business. Path, the mobile phone-based social network founded by former Facebook employee Dave Morin, which only allows its users to have 150 friends, is gaining 1m users a week.
Facebook is still growing fast in South America. Monthly visitors in Brazil were up to 6% in the last month to 70m, according to Socialbakers, whose Information is used by Facebook advertisers. India has seen a 4% rise to 64m - still only a fraction of the country's population, so there is room for more growth.
As Facebook itself has warned, the time spent on its pages from those sitting in front of personal computers is decreasing fast because people now prefer to use their smartphones and tablets. Although smartphone minutes have doubled in a year, to 69 a month, that growth may not compensate for dwindling desktop usage.
Facebook will tell investors about its performance for the quarter. Wall Street expects revenues of about $1.44bn, an increase from $1.06bn a year ago. Shareholders will want to know how fast the number of mobile Facebook users is growing, and whether advertising revenues are increasing at the same rate. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has created a series of new initiatives designed to appeal to smartphone users. One initiative, Facebook Home, is software that can be downloaded onto Android phones to feed news and photos from friends - and advertising - directly to the owner's locked home screen.
(Adapted from http://www.guardian.com.uk)
The doctor ________ Peggy if she ________ the blood pressure pill. Peggy________ to the doctor that she _________ taking it several weeks before. The doctor ________ Peggy ________ taking the medicine again.
(Adapted from McAslan, Mary Sue. Read the Prescription Label. Balboa Press, 2012, p. 150-151)