PART THREE
  Questions 13-20
  Read the article below about stress management, and answer questions 13-20 on the opposite page.

  A Lesson In Stress Management
  Demands placed on us at work can often lead to considerable worry and discomfort. There are,   however, ways of protecting ourselves from the stress we face at work. We interviewed Jane   Collard, a consultant in stress management.

  1. In Jane Collard's opinion, stress is becoming an increasingly common feature of the   workplace. Stress is a highly individual reaction, which varies considerably from person to   person, and it is difficult for some employees to avoid it. Indeed, stress is regarded by many   as part of the organizational culture of our institutions: it comes with the job. Recent figures   indicate that time taken off work because of stress has increased by 500 per cent since the   1950s. Undoubtedly, changes in working conditions have led to greater pressure at work at all   levels. With reductions in staffing, workloads for individual employees have increased. In   addition, many employees are left worrying about the security of their jobs.
  2. On the stress management courses that she runs, Jane Collard tries to make the trainees   realise that stress in itself is not harmful. Everyone needs a certain level of stress to enable   them to feel motivated and to perform effectively. A complete absence of stress can be as   damaging as overstress, since it can make people lose interest in their work, and even lead to   depression. The difficulties occur when the amount of stress rises above a level which is   healthy for a particular individual. If this happens, the effects are very obvious and the   trainees are taught to recognize the signs. Stress may be expressed physically, for example   through headaches and tiredness, or through emotional problems such as depression. A person   suffering from stress ma y also start to behave differently, and can be difficult to deal with.
  3. While it may not always be possible to prevent stress, there are a number of ways in which it   can be controlled. The first thing that the trainees learn is how to manage their time   effectively. This involves, first of all, setting realistic goals for both the short and long   term. Once this framework has been established, tasks are then prioritised on a daily basis. The   trainees are also reminded that when they are under pressure the less important items should be   left, and they should never hesitate to delegate. Everyone is encouraged to look at ways of   reducing 'wasted time ', for example by grouping similar tasks together or dealing with items   immedkiately.
  4. Jane feels that one of the most useful features of the course is that it enables trainees to   deal with those demands or deadlines that they regard as unreasonable. They are encouraged to   avoid being defensive, but at the same time they are advised not to be afraid of saying 'no'.   They are asked to give reasons only if necessary. The training helps them to foresee difficult   situations or unwanted demands, and they learn how to prepare themselves mentally. Everyone is   encouraged not to get stuck in negative thought patterns, where stress can feed a circular sense   of helplessness. One solution they discuss is to think of a more encouraging alternative for   each negative message. They learn, for example, to remind themselves that nothing terrible   happens when a demand is refused or a deadline missed. Life goes on.

  Questions 13-16
  For questions 13-16, choose the best title for each numbered paragraph from the list below.
  For each numbered paragraph 1-4, mark one
  letter (A-G) on your Answer Sheet.
  Do not use any letter more than once.