The Well Sleep Quiz

How does sleep affect health, relationships and well-being? We spoke with David K. Randall, author of the new book “Dreamland: Adventures in the Strange Science of Sleep,” to learn more about how we spend one-third of our lives. Take this sleep quiz to learn more about the fascinating and sometimes strange world of sleep.

1.Night-shift work is associated with a higher risk for certain health problems. But night-shift workers appear to have a lower risk for which of the following conditions?

• Depression.
• Diabetes.
• Parkinson’s disease.
• Colon cancer.

2.In 1996, a school district in Minnesota shifted its schedule to begin school an hour later each morning. A year later, the school noted all of the following changes EXCEPT:

• Fewer on-campus fights.
• Greater participation in sports.
• A lower drop-out rate.
• A 200-point improvement on the average student’s S.A.T. score.

3.Sleep apnea is a disorder characterized by abnormal pauses in breathing during sleep. Which of the following creatures experience sleep apnea?

• Humans.
• Humans and dogs.
• Humans and chimpanzees.
• Humans, chimpanzees and horses.
• Any animal with a nose.

4.Visiting teams playing Monday Night Football in the N.F.L., generally fly Sunday night before their game. Because of jet lag, researchers have discovered that these games heavily favor which teams?

• Teams from the West Coast.
• Teams from the East Coast.
• Teams that flew from West to East.
• Teams that flew from East to West.

5.Sleepers wearing pajamas tend to sleep best at a room temperature between 60 and 66 degrees Fahrenheit. What is the best temperature range for those who prefer to sleep naked?

• Also 60 to 66 degrees Fahrenheit.
• 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
• 86 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
• 95 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

6.On average, sleeping pills, such as Ambien and Lunesta, increase the amount of sleep a person gets in a night by how much?

• 11 minutes.
• 33 minutes.
• 62 minutes.
• 93 minutes.

7 .During the gulf war, friendly fire caused one in four American combat deaths. Most of these deaths were caused by soldiers not getting enough sleep to think clearly on the battlefield. As a result, military researchers developed which of the following?

• A skin patch containing stimulant drugs.
• Non-spoiling chocolate-covered espresso beans.
• Caffeinated gum.
• A monitor that all soldiers wear to ensure they are getting at least 6 hours of sleep a night.

8.Which aspect of a heterosexual couple’s sleeping habits, as shown in a 2010 study, is the most important predictor of happiness in a relationship?

• How well the wife has slept.
• Whether a couple sleeps in the same bed.
• How well the husband has slept.
• How close together a couple sleeps.