Sleeping: Against ALL SOPs, rest is to be taken standing up! This includes at the hotel. Cathay does not provide hotels with beds. You will get used to this.
Reading: I am no fan of reading. However, I have noticed a large number of our new pilots have developed this reading skill you talk of. The company is aware that some of our pilots can read and will be addressing the problem shortly. If you know how to read, keep it to yourself as some of us are very offended by literates.
Chatting: Subjects are provided with each flight plan tailored exclusively for the flight. Strict adherence to the chatting subjects is mandatory! But sometimes I fly with someone who disdains the "chat subjects", then we chat about the usual, our hair, makeup, clothes, Oprah, etc.
Hope this helps.