TIME TO WATCH

1 | You are going to watch a video about sleeping. Before that, read the text about body clocks and answer the questions.
Do you think it is the clock on the wall that decides for us when to sleep, when to eat or when to wake up? Well, not. The reason why we feel sleepy at night and wake up in the morning is thanks to our body clock. It is called the circadian rhythm. It is like our body's internal clock that runs things in a 24-hour cycle1 It helps with many body changes like when we need to wind down2 or feel awake, control our temperature, and release3 hormones. The most important part of the circadian rhythm is the sleep-wake cycle. It decides when we feel wide awake and when we get sleepy. This rhythm, listens to outside signals, like light. Sunlight is a big helper of our internal clock. |
Light makes sure our bodies stay in time with the world outside. For example, when we travel across time zones, our circadian rhythm tries to reset itself to the new sleep-wake cycle. But it can take some time and you can get jet lag. Two important hormones, cortisol and melatonin, follow circadian rhythm, too. Cortisol makes us alert4 in the morning, and melatonin helps us get ready for sleep at night by slowing our heartbeat and respiratory rate5. So, the body gets the opportunity to restore6 itself. If we don't follow the signals of our body clock, we might feel groggy7. The worst thing is that if we continue working or studying in this state, we might later have hazy8 memories of the things we have done. Also, if we don't listen to our circadian rhythm, it can be bad for our health. To keep it healthy, we should stick to a regular sleep schedule and spend time in natural light. Understanding and respecting this natural cycle is important for a healthy and balanced life. 1. What is the other name for our body clock? 2. What body changes does it influence? 3. What are cortisol and melatonin hormones responsible for? 4. What are the disadvantages of not listening to our body clock?

2 | Read the text again and match the numbered words (1-8) to their definitions (a-h). a) weak or unable to think clearly or walk correctly usually because of tiredness b) not remembering things clearly c) a regular period of time during which an activity,job, etc. is done d) to allow a hormone to flow out e) to start to relax gradually after a period of hard work or a worrying situation f) of or relating to breathing g) quick to see and understand and act in a particular situation h) to return something to an earlier good condition