Directions: Read the given passage carefully to answer the following questions. Each question will have five alternatives as its answer. Choose the correct option as your answer.
Sleep is often treated as a personal matter, but its effects can extend well into the workplace. Employees who do not get enough sleep may experience sleepiness during daytime hours, making it harder for them to concentrate, make decisions, and complete tasks efficiently. Even when employees remain physically present at work, tiredness can reduce their ability to respond quickly and maintain consistent performance. Over time, frequent sleep deprivation may also ______ their motivation and satisfaction with their jobs. The problem can be particularly difficult for employees trying to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Long working hours, late-night messages, irregular schedules, and the pressure to meet deadlines can reduce the time available for proper rest. Some employees may carry their workplace concerns home, making it difficult to mentally disconnect from their duties. As a result, they may struggle to relax at night and begin the next working day already feeling tired. Employers also have a reason to take sleep deprivation seriously.
A tired workforce may be less productive and more likely to make mistakes. Instead of expecting employees to remain available at all times, organisations can introduce practices that support healthier routines. Clear working hours, reasonable workloads, limited after-hours communication, and flexible scheduling can help employees manage their responsibilities more effectively. Short breaks during the workday may also help employees regain focus when daytime sleepiness becomes difficult to manage. Employees, too, can adopt strategies to improve their sleep and work habits. Maintaining a regular sleep schedule, reducing unnecessary screen time before bed, and planning tasks according to their energy levels can make daily routines more manageable. Most importantly, employees and employers need to recognise that productivity should not depend on constant exhaustion. A better approach is to create working conditions in which people can complete their responsibilities while still having sufficient time to rest and recover. Thus, managing sleep deprivation is not simply about encouraging employees to sleep more. It requires a broader understanding of how workplace expectations, personal routines, and work-life balance interact. When both employees and employers take practical steps to address the problem, daytime alertness can improve and the workplace can become more sustainable for everyone.
According to the passage, which of the following is a consequence of insufficient sleep among employees?
- AOption (a)
Increased ability to make decisions
- BOption (b)
Improved concentration during work
- COption (c)
Reduced ability to respond quickly
- DOption (d)
Greater satisfaction with their jobs
- EOption (e)
Increased motivation to complete tasks
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Correct answer
Reduced ability to respond quickly
Why this answer is correct
The correct answer is Option C.
Key Points
- The passage explicitly mentions the negative impacts of sleep deprivation on employee performance in the first paragraph.
- It states: "Even when employees remain physically present at work, tiredness can reduce their ability to respond quickly and maintain consistent performance."
- Other mentioned consequences include difficulty in concentrating, making decisions, and completing tasks efficiently, as well as reduced motivation and job satisfaction.
- Therefore, Option C directly aligns with the information provided in the text.
Therefore, the correct answer is C.
Correct Sentence from Passage: "Even when employees remain physically present at work, tiredness can reduce their ability to respond quickly and maintain consistent performance."
Additional Information
- A: Increased ability to make decisions – Incorrect; the passage states sleepiness makes it harder to make decisions.
- B: Improved concentration during work – Incorrect; the passage states it is harder to concentrate.
- D: Greater satisfaction with their jobs – Incorrect; the passage suggests sleep deprivation may reduce job satisfaction.
- E: Increased motivation to complete tasks – Incorrect; the passage states sleep deprivation may reduce motivation.