Reading Section

Reading Section.

REM (rapid eye movement) sleep is a type of sleep that is important to humans. This type of sleep generally occurs four or five times during one night of sleep, in periods of time ranging from live minutes to forty minutes for each occurrence. The periods of REM sleep become longer and longer as the night progresses.

Physical changes occur in the body to show that a person has transitioned from NREM (non-rapid eye movement) sleep to REM sleep. Breathing becomes faster, the heart rate increases, and, as the name implies, the eyes begin to move quickly. Accompanying these physical changes in the body is a very important characteristic of REM sleep. It is during REM sleep that dreams occur.

1. The subject of this passage is

a) the human need for REM sleep

b) physical changes in the human body

c) the characteristics of REM sleep

d) why people sleep

2. According to the passage, how often does REM sleep occur in one night?

a) Once b) Twice

c) Four or five times d) Forty times

3. A REM sleep period of 40 minutes would most likely be which period of REM sleep?

a) The first period

b) The second period

c) The third period

d) The fourth period

4. The word “progresses” in line 4 is closest in meaning to

a) continues

b) darkens

c) falls

d) sleeps

5. The word “transitioned” in line 5 could best be replaced by which of the following?

a) Breathed

b) Increased

c) Fallen

d) changed