(B)

Stress: Good or Bad?

    Stress used to be an almost unknown word, but now that we are used to talking about it, I have found that people are beginning to get stressed about being stressed.

    In recent years, stress {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (regard) as a cause of a whole range of medical problems, from high blood pressure to mental illness. But like so many other things, it is only too much stress {#blank#}2{#/blank#} does you harm. It is time you considered that if there were no stress in your life, you would achieve a little. If you are stuck at home with no stress, then your level of performance will be low. Up to a certain point, the more stress you are under, the {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (good) your performance will be. Beyond a certain point, though, further stress will only lead to exhaustion, illness and finally a breakdown. You can tell when youare over the top and on the downward slope, by asking yourself {#blank#}4{#/blank#} numberof questions. Do you, for instance, feel that too much is being expected of{#blank#}5{#/blank#}, and yet find it impossible to say no? Do you find yourself getting impatient or {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (annoy) with people over unimportant things? If the answer to all those questions is yes, you had better {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (control) your stress, as you probably are under more stress than is good for you.

    To some extent you can control the amount of stress in your life. Doctors have worked out a chart showing how much stress is involved in various events. Getting married is 50, pregnancy 40, moving house 20, Christmas 12, etc. If the total stress in your life is over 150, you are twice as likely {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (get) ill.

    The following is just a short story but it really brought home to me how very small acts of kindness and even polite behavior have {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (big) effects than we realize.

    I have a bad back {#blank#}2{#/blank#} flares up (发作) from time to time. Yesterday I was out walking in the street while {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (carry) shopping bags and my keys. My keys {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (sudden) slipped from my hand and fell to the ground. The problem was that because of my back I couldn't bend down {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (get) them. I was just thinking of how to get around this {#blank#}6{#/blank#} two teenage girls came up beside me. Without even speaking to me, one of the {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (girl) just reached down, picked up my keys, handed them {#blank#}8{#/blank#}me and went on her way.

    While it was {#blank#}9{#/blank#} small gesture and she couldn't have known that I was in too much pain to bend down, it {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (mean) a great deal to me at that moment

    The game of basketball was created by Dr. Naismith, a Canadian who worked as a physical education {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (instruct) at a college. He noticed {#blank#}2{#/blank#}lack of interest in exercise among students during wintertime. The Canadian winters were very cold, so the students were {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (will) to do outdoor activities. Naismith determined that a fast-moving game {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (play) indoors would fill the empty after the baseball seasons had ended. In December of 1891, he {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (hang) two old baskets at either end of the gym, and with nine players on each side, organized the first basketball game. In less than a year, basketball was being played in {#blank#}6{#/blank#}the United States and Canada. Five years {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (late), a championship was held in New York City. {#blank#}8{#/blank#}that time, the team had already been reduced to seven, and five became standard in the 1897 season. When basketball first appeared in the 1904 Olympic Games, it {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (quick) spread throughout the world. In 1906, a metal ring {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (use) to replace the basket, but the name basketball has remained.

    How to prevent being infected with the virus? There are a number of standard hygiene (卫生) practices {#blank#}1{#/blank#} have been recommended to protect against infection and {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (far) spread. These include covering your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing with a medical mask, tissue or flexed elbow; avoiding contacting with those who are unwell {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (close); the appropriate use of masks and personal protective {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (equip), especially in a healthcare setting; washing hands regularly with water and soap, {#blank#}5{#/blank#} alcohol-based hand sanitizer (洗手液). {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (action) that can be taken to prevent infection from an animal source include: avoiding unnecessary unprotected contact with animals; washing hands after contact with animals or animal products; and ensuring that animal products are cooked thoroughly before they {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (consume).

    It is important{#blank#}8{#/blank#} (stay) home if you're feeling unwell. But if you have a fever, cough, and difficulty {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (breath), seek medical care early and share your previous travel history {#blank#}10{#/blank#} your healthcare provider.