Final answer:
Tamara's insufficient sleep could lead to irritability, distractibility, mental performance issues, and potentially riskier behaviors due to impaired cognitive and motor functions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Due to her lack of sleep, 15-year-old Tamara may exhibit a range of behaviors typically associated with sleep deprivation. This can include increased irritability, difficulty in maintaining concentration (distractibility), and diminished cognitive function. Lack of adequate sleep is also linked to more severe health issues, like obesity, higher blood pressure, a rise in stress hormones, and weakened immune system efficiency. In the context of safety, a sleep-deprived individual, such as Tamara, might pose a risk to herself and others, especially when undertaking activities that require alertness like driving or operating machinery, where cognitive and motor functions are critical. Furthermore, consistent insufficient sleep could lead to symptoms resembling depression and significant decrements in mental performance, as the brain struggles to cope with the sleep debt it has accrued.