IELTS Academic Reading · YNNG Passage 1 · The Economics of Sleep Deprivation Teacher Key — Not for Students

Answer Key: Yes / No / Not Given · YNNG-1

Passage: The Economics of Sleep Deprivation  |  Questions 1–7  |  Question type follows text order
Core YNNG principle: These questions test the writer's opinions, claims and arguments — not objective facts. The question to ask for each item is: "Does the author express this view?" Students who treat YNNG like TFNG (looking for factual agreement/contradiction) are the ones who struggle most with this question type.

Quick Reference

Q Answer Paragraph Key phrase / writer's signal
1 Yes A caused policymakers … to overlook the profound economic consequences
2 Yes B the tired worker produces substandard output while occupying a productive role
3 Yes C almost certainly underestimate the true cost
4 No D not merely misguided but self-defeating … reducing the very output they seek to maximise
5 No E adoption remains far too limited to constitute a systemic shift
6 No F it would be a mistake to place the primary burden of change on individuals
7 Not Given E / G Writer argues for regulation but gives no specific timeline; "the timeline remains uncertain"

Detailed Explanations

Q1 Policymakers have historically failed to give sufficient attention to the economic impact of poor sleep. Yes

Writer's view

A The author states that viewing sleep as a biological necessity caused policymakers and business leaders to overlook the profound economic consequences. This is a direct expression of the writer's critical opinion of past policy attention — YES.

Common wrong answers & why

  • NOT GIVEN — Students may feel the passage only implies neglect rather than stating it. Teach that "caused … to overlook" is the author's direct attribution of blame — it is a stated opinion, not merely implied.
  • Good opening item: confirms that YNNG can be straightforward when the author's position is explicit.
Q2 A tired employee who comes to work causes more financial damage to an organisation than an employee who is absent due to illness. Yes

Writer's view

B A worker who arrives tired but present is often more costly to an organisation than one who stays home ill. The author presents this as a stated claim — not a suggestion or speculation. YES.

Common wrong answers & why

  • NOT GIVEN — Students may struggle with the word "often" (hedged) and conclude it is non-committal. Clarify: "often more costly" is still the author expressing a view — hedged views are still views.
  • Useful for teaching that hedged language (often, may, can) in YNNG does not automatically mean NOT GIVEN.
Q3 The published estimates of the economic cost of sleep deprivation are likely to be lower than the actual cost. Yes

Writer's view

C almost certainly underestimate the true cost — strong authorial opinion. "Underestimate" = published figures are lower than the true cost. "Almost certainly" signals a confident view, not mere speculation. YES.

Common wrong answers & why

  • NOT GIVEN — Students may think "almost certainly" is too tentative. Drill the difference: NOT GIVEN means the writer's view is simply absent, not that it is hedged. "Almost certainly" is a very strong signal of the writer's position.
Q4 Companies that expect employees to work long hours are making a rational and effective business decision. No

Writer's view

D The author calls the overwork culture not merely misguided but self-defeating and states it is reducing the very output they seek to maximise. This is the direct opposite of "rational and effective." NO.

Common wrong answers & why

  • NOT GIVEN — Students may feel the author talks about culture rather than directly evaluating business decisions. Point them to "self-defeating" — this is unambiguous authorial evaluation of business strategy.
  • Note the explicit attribution: "in the author's view" in para D signals this is opinion, making it ideal YNNG territory.
Q5 Workplace sleep initiatives introduced by technology and finance companies have already brought about significant industry-wide change. No

Writer's view

E The author calls these initiatives encouraging but immediately qualifies this: adoption remains far too limited to constitute a systemic shift. The statement claims systemic/significant change has occurred; the author explicitly says it has not. NO.

Common wrong answers & why

  • YES — Students may read "encouraging" and stop there, missing the contrast introduced by "though." Reinforce reading past concessive phrases to the main claim.
  • Good item for practising concession + qualification structure: X is positive, though Y remains insufficient.
Q6 Responsibility for improving sleep habits should rest mainly with individual workers rather than with employers or governments. No

Writer's view

F it would be a mistake to place the primary burden of change on individuals when the systemic incentives of modern work remain so strongly aligned against adequate rest. This is a direct rejection of the position described in the statement. NO.

Common wrong answers & why

  • NOT GIVEN — Students may notice the author acknowledges individual behaviour ("plays a role that should not be minimised") and think the author is balanced/neutral. But the author goes further and explicitly says placing primary responsibility on individuals would be "a mistake." That is a stated view, not neutrality.
  • Excellent item for teaching the difference between acknowledging a point and endorsing it.
Q7 Regulation of sleep in white-collar industries will definitely be introduced within the next ten years. Not Given

Writer's view

E / G The author argues that white-collar sleep regulation deserves more consideration and draws an analogy with tobacco/safety regulation to suggest it may eventually happen. However, the author explicitly says the timeline remains uncertain. No specific timeframe is given or endorsed. The question of definitely within ten years is simply not addressed. NOT GIVEN.

Common wrong answers & why

  • NO — Students may think the hedged, uncertain language means the author doubts it will happen. But uncertainty about timing ≠ believing it won't happen. The author is actually optimistic — just not specific about when.
  • YES — Students who focus on the positive analogy (tobacco regulation was eventually introduced) may think the author is predicting definite future regulation. But "there is reason to believe" and "timeline remains uncertain" are not certainty.
  • This NOT GIVEN requires distinguishing: the author's hope/expectation (expressed) vs a specific guaranteed timeline (not expressed). A sophisticated item for Band 7 work.

Teaching Notes — YNNG-1