Why We Shiver
Written by Studio AM.
Your result
- Words per minute
- Score
- Pace
Words per minute mean something only with the score beside them. They describe this passage on this read. With fewer than 3 right, try the next slower pace.
Choose a pace and select Start. The passage is paced and timed, then the questions check what you understood. How pace mode works
Reading time 0:00
Your body keeps its core temperature within a narrow range. It is often near 37 degrees Celsius, but the exact number changes with the person, time of day, activity, and place of measurement. When cold air pulls heat from your body, your temperature can begin to fall.
The brain watches for that change. A control center acts a little like a thermostat in a room. It sends signals that tighten and release your muscles many times. The quick, repeated motion is a shiver.
Moving muscles produce heat. A runner warms up for the same reason. Shivering uses muscle motion without waiting for you to choose it. The heat helps defend your core temperature.
Shivering also uses energy, so it can be tiring. It is one response to cold, not a promise that the body can handle any temperature. Strong or lasting shivering can be a sign to get warm and seek help when needed.
The passage is hidden while you answer. It comes back with your result.
Questions
Choose an answer. The explanation appears after you answer.
-
Question 1 of 4
What is the passage mainly about?
The answer is D: How repeated muscle motion makes heat when the body gets cold
The passage follows a drop in temperature to brain signals, muscle motion, and heat.
-
Question 2 of 4
A “thermostat” is something that
The answer is A: watches temperature and responds when it changes
The brain’s control center is compared with a room thermostat that responds to temperature.
-
Question 3 of 4
What do the brain’s signals make muscles do?
The answer is B: Tighten and release many times
The second paragraph says the muscles tighten and release repeatedly.
-
Question 4 of 4
Why can shivering make a person tired?
The answer is C: Repeated muscle motion uses energy
The final paragraph connects the energy used by muscle motion with tiredness.
Score: none answered yet.