Your sleeping position can determine a lot about your health, and can also affect your health in different ways.  

Sleeping on your side is probably the best position. It offers a number of benefits to your body, from preventing back pain to reducing heartburn and snoring. Side sleeping would be particularly beneficial for older people, those who snore, those with back pain, and pregnant women.  

There are a few drawbacks to sleeping on your side, however. Those with shoulder pain should stop side sleeping as this could cause further pain and unwanted pressure on the shoulder. Those who are worried about wrinkles(皱纹) should also avoid side sleeping, as your face is being pressed against the pillow which is stretching and irritating the skin which could promote ageing.  

Lying on your back is the second most popular sleeping position and offers just as many benefits as side sleeping. When you’re sleeping on your back, it’s easy to distribute your weight, which helps to prevent any neck and back pain. Sleeping on your back would be beneficial for those who are keen to keep their skin in tip top condition as you are facing upwards so there’s no damage from pressing your face into the pillow.  

However, sleeping on your back is the worst position if you snore. Furthermore, if you sleep on your back with limited support for your neck and head you could be very likely to be affected by headaches. If you are a back sleeper, ensure you have a supportive pillow which fits in the curve of your neck and supports your head and natural spinal(脊柱的) curve. 

Sleeping on your stomach is the least common sleeping position, and for good reason. There are more negatives to this position compared to positives, and those who sleep on their stomach could put themselves at risk of a less restful night’s sleep. The stomach offers the least amount of back support and can actually increase pressure on the spine which may cause pain once you wake up. Furthermore, those who sleep on their stomach can twist the neck and head, which will have a negative effect on your spine and may also cause you to suffer a stiff neck upon waking.

本时文内容由奇速英语国际教育研究院原创编写，未经书面授权，禁止复制和任何商业用途，版权所有，侵权必究！（作者投稿及时文阅读定制请联系微信：18980471698）

1.Which sleeping position is best for Jane, a sixty-year-old lady with back pain?

A Sleeping on the side.

B Lying on the back.

C Sleeping on the stomach.

D Not mentioned.

解析：选A。A细节理解题。根据第二段“Side sleeping would be particularly beneficial for older people, those who snore, those with back pain, and pregnant women.”可知对老年人、打呼噜的人、背痛的人和孕妇来说，侧睡最好。故选A。

2.Which can replace the underlined word “drawbacks” in Paragraph 3?

A Mistakes.

B Disadvantages.

C Difficulties.

D Burdens.

解析：选B。B词义猜测题。根据后文可知，本段讲的是侧睡的缺点。故选B。

3.What can be learned about sleeping on the back?

A It is the most popular sleeping position.

B It is helpful to lose weight.

C It is not advised for a snorer.

D It requires no pillow.

解析：选C。C细节理解题。根据第五段第一句“However, sleeping on your back is the worst position if you snore.”可知，仰睡不适合打鼾的人。故选C。

4.Where is this text most likely from?

A A diary.

B A guidebook.

C A novel.

D A magazine.

解析：选D。D推理判断题。本文是一篇有关睡觉姿势影响健康的说明文，应该来自杂志。故选D。