Nguyễn Mink's Profile

OFFICE STRESS

Stressful atmospheres, (1) _______ of deadlines and long hours dominate office life, according to a survey published  recently.

The majority of those questioned said a good salary and career (2) _______ were their main reason for working. But (3) _______ numbers did not believe their employers offered either. In general the survey found that most felt that (4) _______ of life was more important than status and company perks. Most would prefer employers to offer (5) _______ hours, challenging tasks and job security rather than perks such as company cars and private health care. Many employers’ (6) _______ to understand this meant more than a third worried about their work on holiday, and 40 per cent took days off (7) _______when not ill.

Workers were also irritated by the conditions they had to work in. A fifth struggled with (8) _______ technology, badly lit offices and chairs which caused backache. Half said their (9) _______ would increase if their environment improved.

On the plus side, the biggest compensation was the friendship offered by colleagues, and it appears that the office also affords the chance to flirt with colleagues, make (10) _______ calls to friends abroad, steal stationery and play computer games.

1.A. weight            B. force        C. heaviness            D. pressure

2.A. outlooks            B. odds        C. prospects            D. views

3.A. important                    B. impressive        C. heavy            D. significant

4.A. quality            B. calibre        C. excellence            D. worth

5.A. pliable            B. elastic        C. amenable            D. flexible

6.A. failure            B. defeat        C. deficiency            D. lack

7.A. indisposed        B. unwell        C. injured            D. sick

8.A. behind the times       B. expired        C. out-of-date                    D. invalid

9.A. fertility            B. capacity        C. value                     D. productivity

10.A. idiosyncratic        B. unique        C. personal            D. individual