Question

Read the excerpt below from "Teens and Sleep." As you read, look for the author's claim.


Sleep is essential for teenagers because it plays an important role in their physical and mental development. According to the National Sleep Foundation, teenagers need between 8 to 10 hours of sleep per night to function at their best. However, studies show that most teens are getting far less, often fewer than 7 hours, due to early school start times, busy schedules, and screen time before bed. This lack of sleep can lead to problems with memory, mood, and academic performance.

Sleep is important for learning and focus, yet many teens report feeling tired during the school day. Lack of sleep can affect concentration and attention harming their academic performance. It can also affect mood, causing irritability and exaggerated emotional reactions. Over time, the consequences can be even greater for teens who are adapting to more independence, responsibility, and new social relationships. Prolonged sleep loss may negatively affect emotional development, increasing risks for interpersonal conflict as well as more serious mental health problems.

Teens face numerous challenges to getting consistent, restorative sleep. Recognizing those challenges helps teens and their caregivers make a plan so that teens get the sleep they need.


Does the following statement support the author's claim? Explain your response using evidence from the text.
"Sleep is important for learning and focus, yet many teens report feeling tired during the school day."

Answer 1

Yes. That sentence is a supporting detail that reinforces the author's claim that sleep is essential for teens' physical and mental development. The passage states teens need 8–10 hours (National Sleep Foundation) but "most teens are getting far less, often fewer than 7 hours," and then links lack of sleep to problems with "memory, mood, and academic performance." The line "Sleep is important for learning and focus, yet many teens report feeling tired during the school day" directly shows the consequence (tiredness at school) that results from insufficient sleep and helps explain how sleep loss harms concentration and academic success.