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Reader's Bank_Level 6_Unit 04                                    Reading Text

When we sleep, does the brain stop working? It depends. Sometimes it slows down, but sometimes it works hard. The busiest time is called REM sleep. REM means Rapid Eye Movement. In this stage, your eyes move fast under your eyelids. REM sleep helps the brain stay healthy. We have dreams during REM sleep. Dreams that take place during REM sleep give the brain a chance to let go of the hidden emotions, like fear and jealousy. People hide these feelings when they are awake. But dreams let them come out, which helps us feel calm. REM sleep also helps us remember things because it moves memories into long-term storage. Without enough REM sleep, we forget things more easily. It takes about 90 minutes to reach REM sleep. This stage happens around five times each night.

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In Nashville, a city in Tennessee, something special is happening. Instead of using machines, the city uses sheep to cut the grass! Each year, hundreds of sheep eat grass along the Cumberland River. Since 2017, the city has used this idea to take care of its parks. The sheep eat thick grass and help keep the land clean. They eat grass on a huge area—about 610,000 square meters! Using sheep is good for the environment. The city doesn’t need gas-powered machines, so it saves energy and reduces pollution. Eating grass also helps the sheep stay healthy and full. There is another benefit, too. When sheep eat dry grass, they can help stop wildfires. Fires spread more slowly in areas where the grass is already eaten. Sheep may be slow, but they are helping the city in a big way!

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In 1495, Leonardo da Vinci was working on a painting for a church in Milan, Italy. This painting showed the last meal Jesus shared with his twelve *apostles on the night before his death. He painted a large table and the twelve apostles. “Now, I just have to finish Jesus’ face,” he thought. The great artist sat in front of the painting and wondered, “How can I show Jesus’ love and goodness? How can I express his sadness and pain?” Leonardo was deep in thought, but he couldn’t come up with any ideas. He stared at his unfinished painting for many days. He had deep love and respect for Jesus. A kind or handsome face just wouldn’t be good enough. The face of Jesus had to be perfect. Months passed. Years went by. But he just couldn’t make any progress. Finally, he gave up. “I can’t possibly depict the goodness and love in Jesus’ face.” Today, we can see Jesus’ face in The Last Supper. Who painted the face of Jesus? No one knows, but it is probably not as beautiful as Leonardo had hoped.