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Unit IV: Dealing with stress

1. Rank these situations from 1 (most stressful) to 7 (least stressful). Then discuss
your choices.
failing a subject
showing up in classes without the material
writing a report/doing a homework with someone you don't get along with
breaking up with your boyfriend/girlfriend
giving your opinion in the English class
asking your teacher to move a deadline or test.
making a presentation for your IO class
! Now think about your future: What do you think are the main causes of stress at
work?
2. Listening
1. Alan Bradshaw is a director of "In Equilibrium", a stress management consultancy. Listen
to the first part of the interview and complete these notes.

2. Listen to the 2nd part of the interview and answer this question.
What are the two main ways in which In Equilibrium helps companies to deal with
stress?

Useful Vocabulary for this Unit: Healthy environment, Medical check-up, counseling service, stress
management, pressure, workaholic, deadline, workload. CAN YOU THINK IN ANY OTHER?


Alan Bradshaw
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c. Which do you think apply more to men or women?
have more pressure outside work
worry more about making mistakes
pay more attention to details
are less worried about deadlines
are more likely to become angry and stressed
are better at doing many things at the same time.

3. Read and Discuss





















Santiago Leads Chile In Reports Of Chronic Stress
By Editor
Published On : Wed, Jan 26th, 2011
The Ministry of Health has released a new survey revealing that 1.5 million Chileans suffer from
stress. The inhabitants of the Metropolitan Region and the extreme zones in the country are the
most affected.
Santiaguinos have the highest levels of chronic stress with 11.2 percent, followed by the residents
of the Arica and Parinacota and Magallanes.
These facts imply that almost 1.5 million people reported feeling constantly stressed in the past
two months.
When split between genders, women demonstrated feeling twice as stressed as men. In terms of
age, Chileans between 24 and 44 lead with the highest reports of chronic stress.
Higher stress is a known contributor to heart disease. Last week the Ministry of Health released
data demonstrating that Chileans eat, drink and smoke in excess, all of which contributes to the
high rates of stress among the population.
In relation to financial stress the numbers increased almost twofold. An average of 18 percent of
the population reported suffering from constant financial stress.
The study also revealed that 12.1 percent of Chileans reported feeling helpless as if they have no
control over their own lives.

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4. Discussion: Stressful jobs
Look at the words in the box. Discuss where to put the jobs in the stress chart below.


As engineers are not included, where do you think it should go in the list?
Do you like working under pressure? Why? Why not?
What deadline do you have to meet in your daily life? Which is it most
difficult to meet?
Why do you think people become workaholic?
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5. Language Review
A. Past Simple VS Present Perfect
We use the PAST SIMPLE to talk about FINISHED ACTIONS.
e.g. I had a very tense meeting with my boss this morning.
I didn't go to the cinema, I went to the gym.
Did you finish the budget report last night?

We use the PRESENT PERFECT to talk about:
An action that started in the past and continues in the present (and might
continue in the future):
e.g. I have worked in this bank for ten years. ( I still work in the bank)
An action that recently finished
e.g. I have just had lunch.
An action that started in the past and has an effect in the present (and in the
future):
e.g. My brother has broken his glasses. (He broke his glasses, and they
are still broken now)


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B. Adjective
In English we can find adjectives in different degrees.
Equality Comparative Superlative
John is as tall as his
classmate.
The red car is as
expensive as the black
car.
John is taller than is
classmate.
The red car is more
expensive than the
black car.
John is the tallest in the
class.
The red car is the most
expensive car.


1. Write these sentences using equality adjectives
1.My bedroom is / big / yours.
____________________________________________________
2. I have / brothers / Mary.
____________________________________________________
3. He doesn't listen / music / I do.
____________________________________________________
4. Are you / young / me?
____________________________________________________
5. This restaurant is / good / any in the world.
____________________________________________________
6. He isn't / smart / people think.
____________________________________________________
7. I found / information / I needed in this book.
____________________________________________________







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2. Write sentences with comparative and superlatives



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C. Modal Verbs
We use modal verbs to show if we believe something is certain or possible. We also use
modal verbs to talk about permission, ability, obligation, advice, offers and so on.
Some modal verbs are:
can, could, will, would, might, may, must, should

1. Choose the best modal verb for the sentences.

Q1 - They ____ be on holiday, but I'm not sure.
___ can
___ might
Q2 - You ____ be right, but I'd still like to check.
can
could

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Q3 - ____ you turn it down a bit please?
Can
May
Q4 - It's OK- you ____ go when you've finished.
may
might
Q5 - Ask any questions now as you ____ not talk during the test.
may
could
Q6 - You ____ smoke in the cinema.
can't
might not

2. Complete the sentences with a suitable modal verb.
1-I have no time. I _____________ leave now or I miss the bus.

2-I wish ___________I buy a new mobile phone but I don't have
enough money.

3-She looks tired; she ____________ take some days off.

4-Tom____________ play tennis quite well. I usually play with him
every weekend.
5-If it rains on Saturday, we __________go to the beach.

6-____________you speak German? No, I __________.

7-I haven't decided yet where ____________I go in my next holidays. I think
I_____________ go to Paris.

8-You ____________not be so nervous. I think it ____________be very
easy.