Reading Quiz about Stress

The purpose of this quiz is to check your reading.

      Stress

     Ana feels stressed. She has 4 children- Malena, Elena, Lorena, and Brenda. She has a full-time job, and she's learning English. Ana loves her kids, her job, and her English class, too. But Ana is too busy. Being too busy gives her stress.

     Ana likes to clean her house, but her four young children leave their toys everywhere.

Messy House

Toys everywhere	Dirty dishes in the Sink	Cockroach

Ana doesn't have time to clean after she cooks. She is so tired. Her dirty dishes and pans are in her sink.  Ana is worried about the cockroach problem in her apartment building.

     Ana is the manager at a CVS Pharmacy. She likes her job but she worries about being around sick people and making her family sick. She also worries because she has to put her kids in childcare with someone she doesn't know very well.

      Ana doesn't have much free time. She does her English homework during her lunch break and goes to class on Zoom after she drops her kids off at daycare.

     But yesterday Ana started crying right in the middle of class while she was on camera. Her teacher asked her, "What's wrong?"

     "I am very stressed," Ana said. "I don't have enough time to do all the things I need to do. I have no one to help me because I am a single mom and my family is in Mexico. My job is difficult, and my children are  messy and a lot of work. I have to put them in daycare with many other kids. It's expensive. I don't have time to shower, brush my teeth, or go to the bathroom. I feel alone."

   "Maybe the students can help you," the teacher said. "Do you have any ideas for Ana?" she asked.

      Rosario suggested that maybe Ana can organize her time. Ana can teach her kids to help and clean. Ngoc said, "Hire a nanny for the house. They cook and clean. Dong Le said "Exercise: walk or yoga." Nancy and Trang said "Meditation". Meditation is relaxation. It's an exercise for your brain that helps you calm down, focus, and learn how to control your reactions and emotions. Trang said, "I like to close my eyes and count my breaths, and when I can't close my eyes, I do it with my eyes open.  I sometimes breathe in different ways- in through my nose and out through my mouth. I'm sorry you are going through such a hard time. If you need to talk, you can call me."

     Van said, "You can call me, too. I will send you some YouTube videos to check out. I love funny videos. They help me feel better when I'm stressed. I also meditate by watching videos of beautiful landscapes with relaxing music and a calm voice. That's called guided meditation, and I learn some English while listening. It's a very peaceful thing to do right before bedtime."

     Viet said, "Ana, I didn't know you were stressed. I am also stressed. I'm having problems adapting to life in America. I sometimes close my eyes and think about each section of my body and send breaths to the areas where I feel stress. Sometimes I also think about colors and imagine that they are bringing me energy, strength, relaxation, joy, and health."

     "Thank you! You have great ideas," Ana said. "I have 2 sets of twins aged 18 months and 3 years old. A nanny is a great idea. Now I'm paying about $500 a week for childcare. I can find a nanny who cooks and cleans for that much. I'll try meditation also. I feel better. I was very sad. You care about me. I have friends. Thank you so much."

      I am happy to have many new friends in class, too," Evelyn said. "Just don't ask me to babysit," she joked. All the students laughed.

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