Small Sleep Changes Can Affect Students' Brains
Schools should do more to encourage young people to get a good night's sleep, according to experts.
That's after a new study found that small differences in sleep habits among young people can have a big impact on cognitive performance.
Colin Espie, who does research into sleep habits at the University of Oxford, told The Guardian that high schools should teach pupils about healthy sleep as part of their studies.
A study published this May by researchers in China and the UK — but not including Espie — found that young people who go to sleep the earliest and sleep the longest tend to do better on cognitive tests.
The researchers looked at sleep data from more than 3,200 11- and 12-year-olds in the US. Their sleep had been monitored using special watches.
The research team put the young people into three different groups based on their sleep habits.
The first group went to sleep the latest and woke the earliest, getting an average of seven hours and 10 minutes of sleep.
Those in the second group slept for an average of seven hours and 21 minutes.
And those in the third group went to sleep earlier, and even had lower heart rates while they slept. These young people slept for an average of seven hours and 25 minutes.
The students took tests that looked at things like reading, problem solving and vocabulary, and those in the third group did the best. Those in the first group did the worst.
One of the study's authors, Barbara Sahakian from the University of Cambridge, said it was surprising that such small differences in average sleep time could have such a big impact.
However, the researchers added that all three groups were getting less than the recommended amount of sleep for people their age.
#Reading
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English From Zero to Hero
Small Sleep Changes Can Affect Students' Brains Schools should do more to encourage young people to get a good night's sleep, according to experts. That's after a new study found that small differences in sleep habits among young people can have a big…
small-sleep-changes-can-affect-students-brains
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Ultra-Processed Foods Linked to Early Death
Ultra-processed foods are often cheap, taste great and give us lots of energy. But these foods offer little nutrition, and are made mostly or entirely from things extracted from other foods — like oils, fats and sugars — or from chemicals made in a lab.
Eating ultra-processed foods has been linked to things like obesity, diabetes, heart disease and cancer.
They're not just things like cookies, candy and cola, but also hot dogs, breakfast cereal and frozen pizza.
And they're everywhere, especially in richer countries.
An international team of researchers wanted to find out just how dangerous these foods are for us.
They looked at data from seven past studies, including data from almost 240,000 people from eight countries: Colombia, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Australia, Canada, the UK and the US.
The researchers found that, on average, people in Colombia got 15% of their energy from ultra-processed foods. But the percentage of energy people got from ultra-processed foods was higher in every other country, from 17% in Brazil to 44% in Canada, 53% in the UK and 55% in America.
It was also found that, for every 10% increase in the amount of energy people got from ultra-processed foods, there was a 3% higher chance of death from all causes.
In fact, the researchers estimated that, in America, 124,000 early deaths each year can be linked to eating ultra-processed foods.
The study's lead investigator, Eduardo Augusto Fernandes Nilson, also said that, in richer countries although consumption of ultra-processed foods has been high it hasn't really been increasing. However, it has been increasing in poorer countries. So while these foods are already linked to more deaths in richer countries, their effects on poorer countries will only get worse.
The study authors say their results show that consumption of ultra-processed foods is a global health issue, and that governments should be doing more to encourage people to eat fresh and minimally processed foods.
#Reading
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English From Zero to Hero
Ultra-Processed Foods Linked to Early Death Ultra-processed foods are often cheap, taste great and give us lots of energy. But these foods offer little nutrition, and are made mostly or entirely from things extracted from other foods — like oils, fats…
ultra-processed-foods-linked-to-early-death
<unknown>
AI Generated Audio
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🔹hit and miss بلا جدوى
▪️We are looking for a new apartment but it seems to be hit and miss whether we can find a good one
🔹hit bottom. في الحضيض
▪️The economy hit bottom last year but is finally starting to improve.
🔹hit-and-run. كرّ و فرّ
▪️The army made a hit-and-run attack on the enemy soldiers
🔹hither and thither. هنا وهناك
▪️He looked hither and thither when he discovered that he had lost his wallet
🔹hit it off with someone يتّفق معه
▪️We really hit it off at the party.
🔹hit the ceiling يغضب
▪️His wife is going to hit the ceiling when she sees the bill for the car repair.
🔹 hit the hay/ sack يأوي إلى الفراش
▪️I decided to hit the hay early last night because I was very tired.
▪️I‘m a little bit tired so I think that I will hit the sack now.
🔹hit the roof. يثور غاضباً
▪️He hit the roof when he found out that his son had wrecked the family car.
🔹hit the spot. يُنعش
▪️Drinking the lemonade after the baseball game really hit the spot.
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#Common_Expressions
#Idioms
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#Slang
⚜ All good in the hood
<Interjection>
▪️ Everything is all right; no problem; used to reassure someone.
▪️"Sorry about nearly breaking your vase, Carl."
"I don't mind, man. All good in the hood."
⚜ All good in the hood
<Interjection>
▪️ Everything is all right; no problem; used to reassure someone.
▪️"Sorry about nearly breaking your vase, Carl."
"I don't mind, man. All good in the hood."
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#usefullanguage
🔅🔅🔅🔅🔅🔅
⚜Shake a leg :
▫️ Hurry up
⚜Like a cow on a flat rock:
▫️(US, of raining,pissing, etc) Heavily, copiously, with a great deluge.
"I better shake a leg before them ; clouds cut loose like a cow on a flat rock."
🔅🔅🔅🔅🔅🔅
⚜Shake a leg :
▫️ Hurry up
⚜Like a cow on a flat rock:
▫️(US, of raining,
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- That boy is hard-headed.
- Chip off the old block.
✴️A chip off the old block
💢 to be very similar to your mother or father in appearance or character. It's generally used in a neutral or positive way, often with a sense of recognition or even admiration for the resemblance.
🔰Examples:
■John's son is already showing a keen interest in engineering, just like John. He's a real chip off the old block.
■Sarah has the same quick wit and stubborn streak as her mother. She's definitely a chip off the old block.
🔘Synonyms:
1⃣ Like father, like son (or Like mother, like daughter)
2⃣ The apple doesn't fall far from the tree
3⃣ Takes after (his father/her mother)
4⃣ A carbon copy (of his father/her mother) - often implies very strong resemblance
5⃣ Spitting image (of his father/her mother) - usually refers more to physical appearance
6⃣ Cut from the same cloth
7⃣ Runs in the family (broader, but can imply a specific trait inherited)
#Common_Phrases
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#Vocabulary
✨ The principle or practice of prioritising others' well-being and happiness over one's own
🫧 Ex:- Politicians are not necessarily motivated by pure altruism.
✨ Describes a person or action that selflessly prioritises others' needs
🫧 Ex:- She is known for her altruistic deeds.
✨ In a selfless manner; acting for others' benefit without personal gain
🫧 Ex: He acted altruistically by donating all his savings.
✨ A person who consistently sacrifices their own interests for others
🫧 Ex:- True altruists are rare in today’s world.
The word "altruism" comes from French "altruisme", derived from Italian "altrui" (others), which traces back to Latin "alter" (other).
💢 "Altruism" {n}
🌀 "الإيثار"
✨ The principle or practice of prioritising others' well-being and happiness over one's own
🫧 Ex:- Politicians are not necessarily motivated by pure altruism.
💢 "Altruistic" {adj}
🌀 "إيثاري"
✨ Describes a person or action that selflessly prioritises others' needs
🫧 Ex:- She is known for her altruistic deeds.
💢 "Altruistically" {adv}
🌀 "بإيثار"
✨ In a selfless manner; acting for others' benefit without personal gain
🫧 Ex: He acted altruistically by donating all his savings.
💢 "Altruist" {n}
🌀 "شخص إيثاري"
✨ A person who consistently sacrifices their own interests for others
🫧 Ex:- True altruists are rare in today’s world.
♠️ Etymology:
The word "altruism" comes from French "altruisme", derived from Italian "altrui" (others), which traces back to Latin "alter" (other).
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#Idiom
💢 To the letter: exactly
✨ Ex: I followed the recipe on the box to the letter , but this chocolate cake tastes terrible!
💢 To the letter: exactly
✨ Ex: I followed the recipe on the box to the letter , but this chocolate cake tastes terrible!
#Idiom
💢 (To) take a crack at: to try something
✨ Ex: I don't know if l can fix your laptop, but I'll take a crack at it.
💢 (To) take a crack at: to try something
✨ Ex: I don't know if l can fix your laptop, but I'll take a crack at it.
#Idiom
💢 (To) have the magic touch: to have talent at doing something; to be able to do something difficult.
✨ Ex: You can't open that bottle? Give it to Ivan. He usually has the magic touch.
💢 (To) have the magic touch: to have talent at doing something; to be able to do something difficult.
✨ Ex: You can't open that bottle? Give it to Ivan. He usually has the magic touch.
#Idiom
💢 (To) steer clear of: to avoid, usually due to a bad experience
✨ Ex: Mark got food poisoning at O'Reilly's? We'd better steer clear of that place from now on!
💢 (To) steer clear of: to avoid, usually due to a bad experience
✨ Ex: Mark got food poisoning at O'Reilly's? We'd better steer clear of that place from now on!
#Idiom
💢 Even exchange: a trade of equal value; when you return something and take something else that costs the same price
✨ Ex: If you return that jacket and get this sweater instead, it will be an even exchange. They're both $39.99.
💢 Even exchange: a trade of equal value; when you return something and take something else that costs the same price
✨ Ex: If you return that jacket and get this sweater instead, it will be an even exchange. They're both $39.99.
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The Health Benefits of Kindness
"For attractive lips, speak words of kindness," the American humorist Sam Levenson once wrote.
And research has found that kindness isn't just good for your lips — it may be good for your whole body!
A 2018 study found that men who helped others in their community had a lower risk of heart disease.
And a 2013 study of over 1,600 older Americans found that those who volunteered for at least 200 hours a year were 40% less likely to develop high blood pressure. These people were also more physically active, and had better mental health.
Meanwhile, another 2013 study, this one in Canada, looked at high school students who spent an hour a week volunteering with elementary school children.
After 10 weeks, the volunteers had lower levels of inflammation and cholesterol than students who weren't volunteering. They also had lower body mass indexes. And the students who got the most benefit from volunteering were the ones who showed the greatest increase in kindness and the greatest improvement in mental health.
So why does this happen?
Well, we're not actually sure. But we have some good guesses.
Speaking to NPR, Laura Kubzansky of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health said that volunteering and acts of kindness may help reduce stress, which is known to have a number of negative health effects, including increased blood pressure. She said doing kind things may also "help to give you more perspective on what your own problems are."
Being more social is also linked to having fewer physical and mental health problems, especially as we get older. And even being kind to yourself has been found to be important for your mental and physical health.
So go say something nice to a friend, or hold the door open for that person behind you — it will be good for both of you!
#Reading
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English From Zero to Hero
The Health Benefits of Kindness "For attractive lips, speak words of kindness," the American humorist Sam Levenson once wrote. And research has found that kindness isn't just good for your lips — it may be good for your whole body! A 2018 study found that…
the-health-benefits-of-kindness
<unknown>
AI Generated Audio
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#common_mistakes
⚜
⚜
😨 I would be glad if you could send me an application form .✖️
😇I would be grateful if you could send me an application
form.✔️
🔮To make a formal request, use would be grateful if (NOTglad):
➖'We would be grateful if you could consider this matter at your earliest convenience.'
😨 She was a very glad person, and very intelligent.✖️
😇She was a very happy person, and very intelligent.✔️
😨We hope that you will like this school and be glad here .✖️
😇 We hope that you will like this school and be happy here.✔️
🔮glad (not used in front of a noun) = pleased and happy about something
in particular:
➖'I'm so glad your wife is feeling better.'
➖ 'I'm glad it wasn't my
turn to pay.'
🔮happy = enjoying life: 'She's a lot happier now that the examinations are
over.'
⚜
Glad
⚜
😨 I would be glad if you could send me an application form .✖️
😇I would be grateful if you could send me an application
form.✔️
🔮To make a formal request, use would be grateful if (NOT
➖'We would be grateful if you could consider this matter at your earliest convenience.'
😨 She was a very glad person, and very intelligent.✖️
😇She was a very happy person, and very intelligent.✔️
😨We hope that you will like this school and be glad here .✖️
😇 We hope that you will like this school and be happy here.✔️
🔮glad (not used in front of a noun) = pleased and happy about something
in particular:
➖'I'm so glad your wife is feeling better.'
➖ 'I'm glad it wasn't my
turn to pay.'
🔮happy = enjoying life: 'She's a lot happier now that the examinations are
over.'
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#common_mistakes
😨 Eventually I became to like Singapore.✖️
😇Eventually I came to like Singapore.✔️
🔮Become means 'start to be' and is followed by an adjective or noun (NOT a verb):
➖'We didn't meet again until after she had become famous.'
➖'Brunei became an independent member of the Commonwealth in 1984.'
🔮When talking about a gradual change in the way a person feels or thinks about someone or something, use come / grow + to-v (NOTbecome):
➖'Although she had come to dislike her boss, she tried not to let it show.'
➖'As the months passed, I actually grew to enjoy his company.'
⚜Become ⚜
😨 Eventually I became to like Singapore.✖️
😇Eventually I came to like Singapore.✔️
🔮Become means 'start to be' and is followed by an adjective or noun (NOT
➖'We didn't meet again until after she had become famous.'
➖'Brunei became an independent member of the Commonwealth in 1984.'
🔮When talking about a gradual change in the way a person feels or thinks about someone or something, use come / grow + to-v (NOT
➖'Although she had come to dislike her boss, she tried not to let it show.'
➖'As the months passed, I actually grew to enjoy his company.'
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#common_mistakes
😨Since he stopped smoking, there has been an extreme
improvement in his health .✖️
😇 Since he stopped smoking, there has been a dramatic
improvement in his health.✔️
😨Doctors have to keep up with all the extreme new medical
developments .✖️
😇 Doctors have to keep up with all the major new medical
developments.✔️
🔮Extreme is mainly used to describe situations, behaviour, opinions and
beliefs: 'extreme poverty', 'extreme caution', 'extreme views', 'extreme disappointment'.
🔮When you are talking about a change or development, use words such
as great / major/important/considerable/dramatic:
➖'Without these major
changes, the company would have collapsed.'
⚜Extreme⚜
😨Since he stopped smoking, there has been an extreme
improvement in his health .✖️
😇 Since he stopped smoking, there has been a dramatic
improvement in his health.✔️
😨Doctors have to keep up with all the extreme new medical
developments .✖️
😇 Doctors have to keep up with all the major new medical
developments.✔️
🔮Extreme is mainly used to describe situations, behaviour, opinions and
beliefs: 'extreme poverty', 'extreme caution', 'extreme views', 'extreme disappointment'.
🔮When you are talking about a change or development, use words such
as great / major/important/considerable/dramatic:
➖'Without these major
changes, the company would have collapsed.'
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