III. Read and translate the text

People like work that is rewarding and gives them satisfaction. For this, a reasonable amount of pressure may be necessary: many employees want work that stretches them, to have the feeling that it can sometimes be difficult, but that it is also stimulating and challenging. This is necessary if one is to have pleasant feelings of achievement.

But when pressure builds up, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by work and this can produce feelings of stress. It is possible to become stressed out through overwork or other problems. People burn out, so stressed and tired that they may never be able to work again. The general consensus is that most jobs have become more demanding, with longer hours and greater pressures.

More and more people want to get away from what they call the rat race or the treadmill, the feeling that work is too competitive, and are looking for lifestyles that are less stressful or completely unstressful. They are looking for more relaxed ways of living and working, perhaps in the country. Some people choose to work from home so as to be nearer their families. People are looking for a better quality of life, a healthier work/life balance. Perhaps they are looking for more quality time with their partners and children. Choosing to work in less stressful ways is known as downshifting.

A whole stress industry has grown up, with its stress counselors and stress therapists giving advice on how to avoid stress and on how to lessen its effects. However, other experts say that stress levels today are lower than they used to be. They point to the difficult working conditions and long hours of our great-grandparents. Perhaps the answer is that the material advantages of modern times give us the illusion that we should have more control over our lives. Like lottery winners who quickly become accustomed to the idea of being rich, we become 'spoilt' by material comforts and start to worry when we think we are losing even a little control over events.

Whatever the truth, people love to talk about the stress of their work. This stress might even be part of their job satisfaction.

IV. Answer the following questions about the text

1. Why may a reasonable amount of pressure be necessary?

2. What can produce feelings of stress?

3. Why do more and more people want to get away from the rat race? How do they do it?

4. What do experts say about stress levels?

V. Complete these sentences with the words from the box

1. Interviews always _______ me _____.

2. The trend towards ___________, where employees swap the stress of corporate life for more quality time, tempted 6% of the UK workforce last year.

3. The high rate of _________ is costing the company a lot of money.

4. People under a lot of ________ may experience headaches, minor pains and sleeping difficulties.

5. Students do find that their _______ increases throughout the course.

6. He decided to get out of the _______, and went to work on a farm.

7. He makes sure he spends a few hours ______ with his children every day.

VI. Before reading the article from the “Financial Times” answer the question: What is your favourite way of controlling stress?