Cambridge English Empower C1
n i t 2
UGoing to extremes
1 SPEAKING
a Ask students, How much did you sleep last night?
Did you sleep well or badly? Put students into pairs to
discuss the questions. Ask students for their answers as a
class. You could read out the background information to
students to give the reading more context.
Answers
1 7–9 hours
2 a teenager
3 True
4 3–7 years old
5 you suffer from sleep deprivation
2 VOCABULARY
a Explain that the comment is taken from an online
discussion about the topic of sleep deprivation. Explain
that it was written by a GP (General Practitioner). Elicit
from students what this means (a doctor who provides
general medical treatment and advice). Ask students
to individually read through the comment, noting the
doctor’s stance. Ask the class to match the words in bold
to the definition, then check their answers in pairs.
Check answers as a class. Note the pronunciation of these
two words:
subtle /ˈsʌtl ̩ / chronic /ˈkrɒnɪk/
Answers
1 sustained
2 fundamentally
3 subtle
4 chronic
5 deprivation
6 profound
b Give students a minute to think about their views on the
matter. Explain that, where possible, they should provide
reasons to support their views. In pairs, students tell each
other their view. Take feedback as a class.
Cambridge English Empower C1 © Cambridge University Press PHOTOCOPIABLE
READING PLUS
3 READING
Before students read the text, you may wish to pre-teach
the words below.
VOCABULARY SUPPORT
fatigue – extreme tiredness
correlated – If two or more facts, numbers, etc. are
correlated, there is a relationship between them
overwhelming – very strong in effect or large in amount
devastating – causing a lot of damage or destruction
perilous – extremely dangerous
weariness – feeling very tired
delirium – a state of being unable to think or speak clearly
because of fever or mental confusion
hallucination – an experience in which you see, hear, feel,
or smell something that does not exist
dissipate – to (cause to) gradually disappear
sustained – caused or allowed to continue for a period of
time
a Set a time limit appropriate for your class, and ask them
to skim read the text, looking for the information from 1a.
Once the time limit is up, check answers as a class.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
There are a range of sleeping disorders but they are usually
classified into three types: dyssomnias, parasomnias and
Circardian rhythm disorders. With dyssomnias, people have
problems with the quantity and quality of sleep, for example,
it takes a long time to fall asleep. With parasomnias, people
show or experience unusual movements or feelings as they
sleep, for example sleepwalking. With Circardian rhythm
disorders, people sleep at unusual times, so they may have
problems getting up in the morning. Sleep deprivation can
be a cause or symptom of all three types of disorders.
b Elicit from the class whether the author and commentator
from exercise 2a are in agreement. Ask students to provide
evidence for their choice.
Answers
Both the author and commentator agree that sleep deprivation is
a serious issue, but the commentator seems to feel it is potentially
more damaging to individuals and society – (‘Without profound
changes to attitudes, we could be facing a real health crisis.’ vs
‘What is worth noting is that a period of sustained sleep will have a
positive effect on sleep deprivation, repairing any damage relatively
painlessly.’)
1
 Unit 2

c Go through the summary with students and ask them to OPTIONAL LANGUAGE FOCUS:
predict what word could go in each gap. For example, VERBS + PREPOSITIONS
What part of speech is 1? (a noun), Can you think of a noun
Please note: There are no instructions on the worksheet for this
followed by ‘of’? (theory). Give students a time limit to
activity.
complete the summary individually. Take feedback as
a class. Write this excerpt from the text on the board and ask
students to fill in the prepositions.
Answers
1 definition a single night of sleep deprivation can result a
2 unethical person experiencing (in)
3 microsleeps Dictate to students these sentences and ask them to fill in
4 ICUs
the preposition.
5 hallucinations
6 sustained She went 3 days sleep. (without)
Sleep deprivation can lead health problems. (to)
d Read out this statement about the text: Sleep deprivation is How do doctors cope so little sleep? (with)
very rare. Ask students, Is it true or false? (False). Ask, How
do you know? (The first sentence says sleep deprivation There are serious consequences when people are deprived
is “all too familiar”). Give students a time limit and tell sleep. (of)
them to answer the true/false statements. If you didn’t Doctors warn either sleeping too much or too little.
pre-teach the vocabulary, you could use it as a vocabulary (against)
focus after the reading. Take feedback as a class and ask
students to tell you what information in the text shows Sleep consists different stages. (of)
that each statement is true or false.
Answers
4 SPEAKING
1 F  2 T  3 F  4 F  5 T a Put students into groups to discuss the prompts.
6 F  7 T  8 T  9 F  10 F As feedback, ask students, Which of these would be most
difficult for you and why?
BETTER READING: IDENTIFYING LANGUAGE CHOICES
Write Sleep Deprivation is terrible on the board and ask why
Sleep deprivation is a nightmare is a better title. (Nightmare
is connected with sleep so there is a play on words.) Tell
students that writers make choices about the vocabulary
and grammar they use to make their writing more effective.
Demonstrate with 1. Ask students, How could this clause be
expressed differently? (If a person is deprived of sleep) Ask,
Does the use of should rather than if change anything? (Yes,
should is more formal and the situation seems less likely).
Tell students to choose the appropriate answer from A,
B and C for 1. With weaker classes, continue through the
exercise in this way. With stronger classes, let students work
individually. Take feedback as a class.

Answers
1 B Should here is used as a formal conditional structure, the
sentence means If a person is …
2 A The structure such…that shows the consequence of
something significant.
3 A As little as shows that only a small amount of something is
needed.
4 B Of the opinion suggests a general consensus but one that is
not very strong.
5 B The present continuous shows a temporary situation.

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