Can't sleep?

Sleep is important. We need to sleep. If we don't sleep then we become confused and we make bad decisions. Ongoing lack of sleep can lead to excessive daytime sleepiness, emotional difficulties, poor job performance, obesity and a lowered perception of quality of life. But how long can someone go without sleep?

Listen to the podcast and find out the longest period anyone has ever gone without sleep. Choose the correct answer.

a) seven days

b) nine days

c) eleven days

Listen to the podcast again and listen for the meaning of the following vocabulary:

• insomnia

• counter-intuitive

• decades

• dilute

• tossing and turning

• chronic

When you are ready, complete the vocabulary test below: