Less is more. This is why we say: reduce things by half instead of doubling them, get rid of junk instead of piling it up, slow down instead of 36 . Apply these 37 in your everyday life, and you will find yourself being on your journey to simplification.
When you concentrate on one task, you find you have 38 that you didn’t even know you had. Just imagine: you are at a fair and you have to 39 two heavy pigs over 100 yards. If you keep 40 one and then the other, it will take a long time, 41 one of them will keep slipping out of your hand and 42 . But if you tie one pig in a place, pick up the other, gather all your 43 , make a dash for the finish line, pause for a moment, run back, get 44 one, and with great determination, carry the second pig to the finish line, and then you can be sure of success.
The stress of work is now 45 almost in all occupations. In the modern nuclear family, the stress that formerly would have been 46 among all the relatives is now 47 on the individual partner.
If you have the feeling that 24 hours per day is not 48 , then it’s not becausse the day has too 49__ hours, but because you have too many activities. A simple fact is that 50 people tend to forget. The 51 is equally simple: refuse to accept so many assignments.
“I can handle stress” is regarded as a positive statement. People who can handle stress are given more—until one day they 52 . Pay careful attention to the signs that tell you that you are under more stress than you can 53 . These signs come from various 54 of life. You become ill, or your work efficiency 55 .
If you have any of these symptoms, change your life goals and decrease your tolerance of stress. Say openly, “ I can’t manage that.”
36. A. bringing up B. taking up C. giving up D. speeding up
37. A. principles B. advantages C. operations D. relations
38. A. appetite B. gift C. energy D. excuse
39. A. carry B. fetch C. bring D. take
40. A. pushing B. enjoying C. grabbing D. exchanging
41. A. and B. because C. so D. but
42. A. running off B. turning off C. catching up D. lying down
43. A. labor B. strength C. power D. force
44. A. another B. others C. other D. the other
45. A. small B. true C. great D. wrong
46. A. shared B. given C. realized D. influenced
47. A. contracted B. concentrated C. constructed D. congratulated
48. A. enough B. short C. important D. proper
49. A. little B. much C. few D. many
50. A. overslept B. overdeveloped C. overcrowded D. overloaded
51. A. answer B. destination C. problem D. solution
52. A. break up B. break down C. break out D. break off
53. A. put with B. deal with C. suffer from D. do with
54. A. qualities B. ways C. areas D. stages
55. A. is improved B. advances C. inecreases D. is affected