Read this article in 4 levels: Basic A1 (英検3級), Intermediate B1(英検2級), Advanced C1(英検1級), original version. Multiple choice content questions for each level. Free English reading practice. The more you read in English, the more your English will improve. How do our heats and lungs work automatically?
A1 Beginner 英検3級
B1 Intermediate 英検2級
C1 Advanced 英検1級
Original article
Basic A1 (英検3級) Version:
Article:
How do our hearts and lungs work automatically? We have a special system called the autonomic nervous system that controls things like our heart and lungs without us thinking about it.
When you want to pick up a cup of tea, your brain has to tell your body to move your hand, hold the cup, lift it, and drink. You have to think about each step. But while you are doing that, your heart keeps beating, and your lungs keep breathing without you thinking about it. This is because we have two systems in our bodies: one we can control and one we cannot.
The system we can control is called the somatic nervous system. This helps us move our muscles, turn our heads, and pick up things. The system we cannot control is called the autonomic nervous system. This controls things like our heartbeat, breathing, and digestion.
The autonomic nervous system has two parts: the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system helps us when we are scared or in danger. It makes our hearts beat faster and helps us breathe quicker. The parasympathetic nervous system helps us when we are resting. It slows down our heartbeat and helps us digest food.
Our brain, especially a part called the hypothalamus, helps control these systems automatically. If we need more oxygen, the hypothalamus tells the lungs to breathe faster. If our heart needs to slow down, it tells the heart to beat slower. The heart also has special cells called pacemaker cells that help it beat regularly without us thinking about it.
Questions:
- What controls our heart and lungs without us thinking?
a) Our hands
b) The autonomic nervous system
c) Our muscles
d) The somatic nervous system - What system do we control when we pick up a cup?
a) The autonomic nervous system
b) The sympathetic system
c) The parasympathetic system
d) The somatic nervous system - What does the sympathetic nervous system do when we are in danger?
a) Slows down our heart
b) Speeds up our heart and breathing
c) Helps us sleep
d) Stops us from moving - What does the parasympathetic nervous system help with?
a) Running fast
b) Resting and digesting food
c) Lifting heavy objects
d) Jumping high - What part of the brain helps control the autonomic nervous system?
a) The hypothalamus
b) The hands
c) The legs
d) The eyes - What do pacemaker cells in the heart do?
a) Help the heart beat regularly
b) Stop the heart from beating
c) Control the lungs
d) Make us sleepy - What happens if we start exercising?
a) Our heart stops
b) The hypothalamus tells the heart to beat faster
c) We fall asleep
d) Our heart beats slower - Can we control our heartbeat consciously?
a) Yes
b) No
c) Sometimes
d) Only when we are sleeping - How many parts are in the autonomic nervous system?
a) One
b) Two
c) Three
d) Four - What does the hypothalamus do if there is too much CO2 in the body?
a) It tells the lungs to breathe faster
b) It makes us stop breathing
c) It makes us hungry
d) It slows down the heart
Answers:
- b) The autonomic nervous system
- d) The somatic nervous system
- b) Speeds up our heart and breathing
- b) Resting and digesting food
- a) The hypothalamus
- a) Help the heart beat regularly
- b) The hypothalamus tells the heart to beat faster
- b) No
- b) Two
- a) It tells the lungs to breathe faster
Intermediate B1 (英検2級) Version:
Article:
How do our hearts and lungs work automatically? The answer lies in the autonomic nervous system, which controls functions like the heartbeat and breathing without our conscious effort.
When you decide to pick up a cup of tea, your brain must go through several steps. It needs to locate the cup, send signals to your muscles to reach for it, grip it, lift it, and bring it to your mouth. You have to think about each of these steps. However, while you’re doing this, your heart keeps beating, and your lungs keep breathing without you thinking about them. This is because there are two systems in our bodies: the somatic nervous system, which we control, and the autonomic nervous system, which operates automatically.
The autonomic nervous system is further divided into two parts: the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system prepares the body for action, such as during a fight or flight response. It increases heart rate, breathing rate, and blood pressure. On the other hand, the parasympathetic nervous system helps the body relax, slow down the heart rate, and digest food. Both systems work together to keep our bodies balanced and functioning correctly, a state known as homeostasis.
The brain plays a crucial role in these automatic processes, particularly a part of the brain called the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus monitors various signals from the body, such as blood pressure and CO2 levels. If the heart needs to speed up or slow down, the hypothalamus sends signals through the sympathetic or parasympathetic nervous systems to adjust the heart rate. Similarly, if CO2 levels are too high or too low, the hypothalamus will signal the lungs to adjust the breathing rate.
The heart has its own system of regulation as well. A group of cells called pacemaker cells generates electrical signals that cause the heart muscles to contract, maintaining a steady heartbeat. During exercise, the hypothalamus receives feedback that more oxygen is needed and sends signals to the heart to increase the heart rate. Once the exercise stops, the parasympathetic nervous system helps slow the heart rate back down.
Overall, the heart and lungs are closely regulated by the autonomic nervous system and the hypothalamus, ensuring they function automatically and efficiently without conscious thought.
Questions:
- What is the main function of the autonomic nervous system?
a) To help us move our muscles
b) To control automatic functions like the heartbeat and breathing
c) To regulate digestion
d) To control our thoughts - What does the sympathetic nervous system do?
a) It helps us relax and digest food
b) It prepares the body for action, increasing heart rate and breathing
c) It slows down the heart
d) It controls our voluntary movements - How does the parasympathetic nervous system affect the body?
a) It speeds up heart rate and breathing
b) It helps the body relax, slows down the heart rate, and aids digestion
c) It increases blood pressure
d) It causes stress - What part of the brain helps regulate the autonomic nervous system?
a) The cerebellum
b) The hypothalamus
c) The frontal lobe
d) The brainstem - What are pacemaker cells responsible for?
a) They help the lungs breathe faster
b) They generate electrical signals that regulate the heartbeat
c) They control the brain’s signals
d) They help us move our muscles - What happens to the heart rate during exercise?
a) It slows down
b) It stops
c) It increases due to signals from the hypothalamus
d) It remains the same - How does the hypothalamus respond to high CO2 levels in the body?
a) It slows down the heart
b) It tells the lungs to breathe faster
c) It increases blood pressure
d) It causes us to faint - What is homeostasis?
a) The body’s ability to control movement
b) The balance of the body’s systems to function correctly
c) The brain’s control over thoughts
d) The body’s response to stress - Can we consciously control our heartbeat?
a) Yes, always
b) No, it’s controlled by the autonomic nervous system
c) Only during exercise
d) Only when we are asleep - What role does the hypothalamus play in regulating heart and lung function?
a) It directly controls muscle movement
b) It monitors signals from the body and sends instructions through the autonomic nervous system
c) It controls our conscious thoughts
d) It makes us hungry
Answers:
- b) To control automatic functions like the heartbeat and breathing
- b) It prepares the body for action, increasing heart rate and breathing
- b) It helps the body relax, slows down the heart rate, and aids digestion
- b) The hypothalamus
- b) They generate electrical signals that regulate the heartbeat
- c) It increases due to signals from the hypothalamus
- b) It tells the lungs to breathe faster
- b) The balance of the body’s systems to function correctly
- b) No, it’s controlled by the autonomic nervous system
- b) It monitors signals from the body and sends instructions through the autonomic nervous system
Advanced C1 (英検1級) Version:
Article:
How do our hearts and lungs work automatically? The answer lies in the autonomic nervous system, which operates independently of our conscious control, managing vital functions like the heartbeat and respiration.
When you decide to pick up a cup of tea, your brain engages in a complex process involving multiple steps. First, it must decide to pick up the cup, analyze the visual data to locate the cup, and send commands to the muscles involved in reaching for, gripping, lifting, and drinking from the cup. Throughout this process, your brain continuously monitors and adjusts the actions to ensure that the cup remains steady, preventing spills. This intricate sequence of actions is an example of the somatic nervous system, which governs voluntary movements. Meanwhile, as you focus on the cup, your heart continues to beat, and your lungs continue to breathe, all without any conscious effort on your part. These functions are regulated by the autonomic nervous system.
The autonomic nervous system is divided into two main branches: the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for the body’s fight-or-flight responses, preparing it for action by increasing the heart rate, breathing rate, and blood pressure. Conversely, the parasympathetic nervous system promotes relaxation, slowing the heart rate, aiding digestion, and maintaining a state of calm. These two systems work in tandem to maintain homeostasis, ensuring that the body functions smoothly whether at rest or in response to stress.
The brain, particularly the hypothalamus, plays a central role in regulating these automatic processes. The hypothalamus continuously monitors various physiological signals, such as blood pressure and carbon dioxide (CO2) levels. When adjustments are needed, the hypothalamus sends signals via the sympathetic or parasympathetic nervous systems to organs like the heart and lungs. For instance, if blood pressure is too high, the hypothalamus can signal the heart to slow down. If CO2 levels rise, it can increase the breathing rate to expel the excess CO2.
The heart also has its own regulatory system, independent of the brain’s direct control. This system involves a group of specialized cells known as pacemaker cells, which generate the electrical impulses that trigger heartbeats. These cells ensure that the heart maintains a regular rhythm, typically around 60 beats per minute, without any conscious effort. During physical activity, the hypothalamus receives feedback indicating that the body requires more oxygen and energy, prompting it to send signals via the sympathetic nervous system to increase the heart rate. Once the activity ceases, the parasympathetic nervous system takes over, restoring the heart rate to its resting state.
In summary, while the heart and lungs are influenced by the brain, they operate largely without our conscious input, thanks to the autonomic nervous system and its intricate connection with the hypothalamus. This system ensures that essential functions like heartbeat and respiration continue seamlessly, allowing us to focus on other tasks without worrying about these vital processes.
Questions:
- What is the primary function of the autonomic nervous system?
a) To control voluntary movements
b) To manage automatic functions such as heartbeat and respiration
c) To regulate muscle contractions
d) To control sensory perception - How does the sympathetic nervous system affect the body during stress?
a) It slows down the heart rate
b) It increases the heart rate, breathing rate, and blood pressure
c) It promotes digestion
d) It induces sleep - What role does the parasympathetic nervous system play?
a) It prepares the body for physical activity
b) It slows the heart rate, aids digestion, and promotes relaxation
c) It increases blood pressure
d) It regulates muscle movement - Which part of the brain is primarily responsible for regulating the autonomic nervous system?
a) The cerebellum
b) The hypothalamus
c) The frontal lobe
d) The occipital lobe - What are pacemaker cells, and what do they do?
a) Cells in the lungs that regulate oxygen intake
b) Cells in the heart that generate electrical impulses to maintain a steady heartbeat
c) Cells in the brain that control muscle movement
d) Cells in the liver that detoxify the blood - How does the hypothalamus respond to high levels of CO2 in the body?
a) It slows down the heart rate
b) It increases the breathing rate to expel excess CO2
c) It lowers blood pressure
d) It induces sleep - What is homeostasis?
a) The body’s ability to maintain a stable internal environment
b) The process of increasing muscle strength
c) The mechanism for regulating blood sugar levels
d) The body’s response to external temperature changes - Can we consciously control our heartbeat?
a) Yes, through meditation
b) No, it is controlled by the autonomic nervous system
c) Only during physical activity
d) Only when sleeping - What triggers the sympathetic nervous system to increase heart rate during exercise?
a) Signals from the muscles
b) Feedback from the body indicating the need for more oxygen and energy
c) A decrease in body temperature
d) An increase in food intake - What happens to the heart rate once physical activity ceases?
a) It continues to increase
b) It slows down, regulated by the parasympathetic nervous system
c) It remains elevated for several hours
d) It stops temporarily
Answers:
- b) To manage automatic functions such as heartbeat and respiration
- b) It increases the heart rate, breathing rate, and blood pressure
- b) It slows the heart rate, aids digestion, and promotes relaxation
- b) The hypothalamus
- b) Cells in the heart that generate electrical impulses to maintain a steady heartbeat
- b) It increases the breathing rate to expel excess CO2
- a) The body’s ability to maintain a stable internal environment
- b) No, it is controlled by the autonomic nervous system
- b) Feedback from the body indicating the need for more oxygen and energy
- b) It slows down, regulated by the parasympathetic nervous system
Original Version:
Article:
How do our hearts and lungs work automatically? We have an autonomic nervous system that makes organs like the heart and the lungs function automatically.
If you want to pick up a cup of tea, your brain has to go through several steps to accomplish the act. It has to make the decision to pick up the cup, it has to analyze the visual information to work out where the cup is, it has to command all of the relevant muscles to move to reach for the cup, grip the cup, lift the cup, then constantly monitor the signals from the muscles so that the cup is kept steady enough not to spill, then instruct the mouth to open, then drink and swallow, then return the cup to the desk. All of these steps require signals to and from the brain. The whole time you are drinking from your cup, your heart keeps beating and your diaphragm keeps your lungs filling and emptying.
There are two systems in our bodies. There is the one we can control and the one we can’t control. We can make our muscles move faster, but we can’t consciously make our hearts beat faster. We can move our eyes, but we can’t consciously lower our blood pressure. We can turn our heads, but we can’t slow down our digestion. We can sniff, but we can’t make ourselves stop sweating. Of each example I just gave, the first examples are the somatic nervous system. These are all of the systems in the body that you can control. The second examples are the autonomic nervous system, which are the things we cannot control.
The autonomic nervous system is split into two different types. There is the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system. They both work autonomously. The difference is the sympathetic nervous system is concerned with fight or flight, while the parasympathetic system is concerned with rest and digest. They both control mainly the same organs, but in a different way. The parasympathetic system keeps the body running day by day. It makes the body rest and relax, it digests food and slows down the heart rate. The sympathetic system goes into action when we are under a stress response and it speeds up the heart, breathing rate, and blood pressure. We need both systems to be well balanced to be healthy. These systems work all the time, whether we are awake or asleep, and they keep the body in a state of homeostasis.
So, how do the heart and lungs work without the brain being involved. Well, you can breathe consciously, and many a meditation app will get you to do just that. However, generally, you don’t need to think about breathing. You can consciously hold your breath until you pass out, but once you are unconscious, you will start breathing again, automatically. You can also slow down your heart rate, if you can force yourself to relax, but that is more of a side effect of calming down than consciously changing your heart rate. Both of these processes happen without conscious thought, but that doesn’t mean the brain isn’t involved. The autonomic nervous system is connected to the hypothalamus and regulated by it. We can’t change our heart beat, but the hypothalamus can. It reacts to stimuli that are coming in from all over the body.
If your blood pressure is too high or too low, the hypothalamus will receive that information and instruct the heart to speed up or slow down, via the sympathetic or the parasympathetic nervous systems. If your body sends signals that there is too much CO2, or not enough CO2, the hypothalamus will instruct the lungs to speed up or slow down. This happens autonomously in that there is no decision making involved. It is an automatic process where if A happens the hypothalamus triggers B.
The heart is connected to the autonomic nervous system, but it has its own regulator. The heart has a group of cells called pacemaker cells. Their job is to create the electrical signal that crosses the heart and makes the muscles contract, about once every second. When the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems are in balance, your heart beats at an average of 60 times a second, without you having to think about it. However, if you start exercising, the hypothalamus receives feedback from different parts of the body to say that not enough energy and oxygen are getting through. This information causes the hypothalamus to release a signal down the sympathetic nervous system to make the pacemaker cells go faster. Once exercise has stopped and there is enough oxygen and energy, the hypothalamus will send a signal down the parasympathetic nervous system telling the pacemaker cells to slow down again. The heart and lungs don’t work without the brain, but they do work without the conscious part of the brain.
Questions:
- What does the autonomic nervous system control?
a) Voluntary muscle movements
b) Involuntary functions like the heartbeat and breathing
c) Vision and hearing
d) Memory and learning - How does the sympathetic nervous system affect the body?
a) It slows down the heart rate
b) It increases heart rate, breathing rate, and blood pressure during stress
c) It promotes digestion
d) It helps with sleep - What is the role of the parasympathetic nervous system?
a) To prepare the body for physical activity
b) To promote relaxation, slow down the heart rate, and aid digestion
c) To increase alertness
d) To control voluntary movements - Which part of the brain regulates the autonomic nervous system?
a) The cerebellum
b) The hypothalamus
c) The frontal cortex
d) The occipital lobe - What are pacemaker cells responsible for in the heart?
a) Regulating muscle contractions
b) Generating electrical signals to maintain a steady heartbeat
c) Controlling blood flow
d) Aiding in digestion - How does the hypothalamus respond to high levels of CO2 in the body?
a) It slows down the heart rate
b) It increases the breathing rate to remove excess CO2
c) It reduces blood pressure
d) It induces sleep - What is homeostasis?
a) The body’s ability to maintain a stable internal environment
b) The process of regulating blood sugar levels
c) The mechanism for controlling body temperature
d) The response to external threats - Can we consciously control our heartbeat?
a) Yes, through meditation
b) No, it is controlled by the autonomic nervous system
c) Only during physical exercise
d) Only when we are asleep - What triggers the sympathetic nervous system to increase heart rate during physical activity?
a) Signals from the muscles
b) Feedback indicating the need for more oxygen and energy
c) A drop in body temperature
d) A decrease in food intake - How does the parasympathetic nervous system affect heart rate after exercise?
a) It continues to increase heart rate
b) It slows the heart rate to a resting level
c) It keeps the heart rate elevated
d) It stops the heart temporarily
Answers:
- b) Involuntary functions like the heartbeat and breathing
- b) It increases heart rate, breathing rate, and blood pressure during stress
- b) To promote relaxation, slow down the heart rate, and aid digestion
- b) The hypothalamus
- b) Generating electrical signals to maintain a steady heartbeat
- b) It increases the breathing rate to remove excess CO2
- a) The body’s ability to maintain a stable internal environment
- b) No, it is controlled by the autonomic nervous system
- b) Feedback indicating the need for more oxygen and energy
- b) It slows the heart rate to a resting level
