Question 1

Potential stress can become actual stress when the outcome of an event is uncertain and ________.
A) not important to the individual
B) hard for the individual to understand
C) occurs on a regular basis
D) important to the individual

Accepted Answer

D) The key to potential stress becoming actual stress is that two conditions are met: the outcome of an event is both uncertain and very important to the individual, making that the correct response. When the outcome is not important, the individual tends to discount the event even if the outcome is likely to be negative. Being hard to understand or in doubt would tend to add additional uncertainty to the situation, but these conditions would not increase the importance of the event to the individual, so they are incorrect responses.

Question 2

Stress has ________ symptoms.
A) only psychological and behavioral
B) psychological, behavioral, and physical
C) only physical
D) only psychological

Accepted Answer

B) Stress affects individuals in three ways-psychologically, behaviorally, and physically-making that the correct answer and eliminating the other choices. An example of psychological effects includes anxiety. An example of physical effects includes changes in blood pressure. An example of behavioral effects includes people becoming distracted.

Question 3

Stress symptoms can be grouped under any of the following three general categories EXCEPT ________.
A) physical
B) cultural
C) psychological
D) behavioral

Accepted Answer

B) Stress symptoms can be expressed in three different ways-physically through such ailments as headaches, psychologically through such feelings as tension and anxiety, and behaviorally, through such things as productivity drops. Cultural symptoms are not recognized as signs of stress, so "cultural" is the correct response for this question.

Question 4

A head football coach who tries to coach every phase of the team-offense, defense, and special teams-rather than delegate authority is likely to suffer from ________.
A) task demand
B) interpersonal demand
C) role conflict
D) role overload

Accepted Answer

D) The stress from trying to perform too many jobs might cause the coach to suffer from role overload, making that the correct response. Task demand would require that the coach be forced to try to meet some difficult goal. Interpersonal demand would be created by conflicts with other coaches or players on the team. Role conflict would come from trying to meet difficult or unrealistic expectations.

Question 5

A baseball player in a slump who feels stress from trying to raise his batting average is experiencing ________ stress.
A) task demand
B) role demand
C) role conflict
D) interpersonal

Accepted Answer

A) The stress from trying to get hits is in a sense a form of work quota. A player who struggles to meet this quota-that is, to get hits-is suffering from task demand, making "task demand" the correct response. Role demand would require that the player be forced to perform some role of leadership or responsibility on the team-for example, to be named the team captain-that he is not ready or qualified for. Role conflict would come from trying to meet very difficult or unrealistic expectations: for example, a player who is not a home run hitter being asked to hit home runs. Interpersonal stress might result from the player not getting along with teammates, for example.

Question 6

Which of the following might be a source of stress for an employee who is very happy with her job with respect to the tasks she performs, what is expected from her, and how she is supervised?
A) task demands
B) role overload
C) interpersonal demands
D) organizational leadership

Accepted Answer

C) Since the employee is happy with her work, it is unlikely that task demands or role overload could be causing stress, so those choices are incorrect. She is also happy with how she is supervised, so organizational leadership is not likely to be a source of stress. What could be causing the employee problems are interpersonal demands-conflicts she has with fellow workers-making that the correct response.

Question 7

A stressor is defined as ________.
A) a personal or job-related factor that causes stress
B) a person who causes stress
C) an attitude that causes stress
D) an emotion that causes stress

Accepted Answer

A) Though a person, strong emotion, or an attitude can cause or contribute to stress, the term stressor is defined as a personal or job-related factor that causes stress, making that the correct response and eliminating all other responses.

Question 8

Stress is most frequently associated with ________ only.
A) demands and constraints
B) opportunities and habits
C) opportunities and fear
D) demands and pressures

Accepted Answer

A) Though opportunities can cause stress, most of the time stress is associated with demands and constraints, making that the correct response. "opportunities and habits" and "opportunities and fear" can be ruled out because they include opportunities, the less-common source of stress. "Demands and pressures" can be ruled out because pressures and demands are largely the same thing and this choice leaves out constraints.

Question 9

A light-hitting baseball player who is suddenly asked to be a power hitter and hit home runs would be likely to experience ________ stress.
A) role overload
B) role demand
C) role conflict
D) role ambiguity

Accepted Answer

C) The stress from trying to meet expectations that are not realistic might cause the player to suffer from role conflict, making that the correct response. Role demand would require that the player be forced to perform some role of leadership or responsibility on the team-for example, to be named team captain-that he is not ready or qualified for. Role overload would come from, for example, a player trying to play more different roles for the team than he is comfortable doing. Role ambiguity would result from the player not understanding what his role on the team was.

Question 10

Potential stress can become actual stress when the outcome of an event is both ________ and important to the individual.
A) uncertain
B) certain
C) meaningful
D) significant

Accepted Answer

A) The key to potential stress becoming actual stress is that two conditions are met: the outcome of an event is both uncertain and very important to the individual, making "uncertain" the correct response. Certainty of an event would decrease, rather than increase, the likelihood of stress. The terms meaningful and significant are somewhat synonymous with important, so both conditions meet only one of the two requirements (importance) for potential stress to become actual stress.

Question 11

Behavioral effects of stress include ________.
A) metabolism changes
B) job dissatisfaction
C) absenteeism
D) procrastination

Accepted Answer

C) Job dissatisfaction and procrastination are examples of psychological, not behavioral, effects of stress, so they are incorrect responses. Metabolic changes are physical effects of stress, so that choice is not correct. Only absenteeism qualifies as a behavioral response to stress, so it is the correct response.

Question 12

George constantly strives to excel. He must always get the highest grade in the class and has a sense of urgency about him at all times. George probably has which of the following?
A) Type A personality
B) Type B personality
C) both Type A and Type B personalities
D) neither Type A nor Type B personality

Accepted Answer

A) George is an impatient, driven, and competitive person, so he fits the Type A personality profile, making that the correct response. "Type B personality" is incorrect because Type B people have traits that are essentially the opposite of George's traits: laid-back, calm, and relaxed. "Both Type A and Type B personalities" is wrong because a single person cannot show both personality traits at once.

Question 13

Anika loves being a professional dancer, but she feels stress from the tension-packed, high-pressure, fear-filled demands of helping motivate members of her group. She is likely to be experiencing stress from ________.
A) too much autonomy
B) organizational leadership
C) role overload
D) role ambiguity

Accepted Answer

B) When the workplace atmosphere has too much pressure, organizational leadership is usually at fault, making that the correct response. Role overload and role ambiguity could create stress, but they would not create an atmosphere of tension and fear, so they are incorrect responses. Too much autonomy can be problematic, but it also would not create a fearful atmosphere, so "too much autonomy" is incorrect.

Question 14

Which statement is correct?
A) Stress is always bad.
B) Stress can be bad or good.
C) Stress is always good.
D) Stress can never be good.

Accepted Answer

B) Stress can have both positive and negative effects, making "stress can be bad or good" the correct response and eliminating the other responses. An example of bad stress is being so nervous that you become dysfunctional. An example of good stress is being so energized that you perform at a high level.

Question 15

Kara is a very relaxed, easygoing person who appears to have all the time in the world. She is never too busy to stop and chat for a moment. Kara has which of the following?
A) Type A personality
B) Type B personality
C) both Type A and Type B personalities
D) neither Type A nor Type B personality

Accepted Answer

B) Kara is a laid-back, relaxed person, so she fits the Type B personality profile, making that the correct response. "Type A personality" is incorrect because Type A people have traits that are essentially the opposite of Kara's traits: nervous, driven, and impatient. The choice indicating "both Type A and Type B personalities" is wrong because a single person cannot show both personality traits at once.

Question 16

A constraint causes stress because it ________.
A) helps you achieve your goal
B) prevents you from achieving your goal
C) helps you define your goal
D) prevents you from defining your goal

Accepted Answer

B) Constraints have nothing to do with defining goals, so the two choices regarding defining goals can be eliminated as correct responses. What constraints do is deter an individual from achieving his or her goal, making that the correct response and helping you achieve your goal incorrect.

Question 17

Which of the following might reduce a sense of task demand stress for a worker?
A) overcrowded conditions
B) uncomfortably high temperatures in the workplace
C) autonomy in the workplace
D) close monitoring by her supervisor

Accepted Answer

C) Evidence shows that the pressure of meeting a difficult goal, task demand, can be reduced by giving the worker autonomy to do the job in her own way on her own terms. This makes "autonomy" the correct response. The other choices-overcrowded conditions, high temperatures, and close monitoring-would tend to worsen the situation and increase, rather than decrease, task demand stress.

Question 18

An actor on stage getting "up" for a performance is an example of which of the following?
A) a negative aspect of stress
B) a positive aspect of stress
C) a condition not related to stress
D) both a positive and a negative aspect of stress

Accepted Answer

B) The ability of an actor to summon extra energy and other resources during a performance is an example of a positive aspect of stress, making that the correct answer and eliminating all other choices. An example of a negative aspect of stress might be an actor's nervousness causing her to be completely dysfunctional on stage.

Question 19

An employee's blood pressure rises, indicating a(n) ________ symptom of stress.
A) psychological
B) behavioral
C) emotional
D) physical

Accepted Answer

D) A change in blood pressure is not merely psychological, behavioral, or emotional. It is a measurable, observable physical change, making "physical" the correct answer and eliminating all other choices.

Question 20

Adverse psychological effects of stress include ________.
A) absenteeism
B) elevated heart rates
C) boredom
D) rapid speech

Accepted Answer

C) Absenteeism and rapid speech are examples of behavioral, not psychological, effects of stress, so they are incorrect responses. An elevated pulse is a physical effect of stress, so it is not correct. Only boredom qualifies as a psychological response to stress, so it is the correct response.

Quiz 11: Managing Change and Innovation

Potential stress can become actual stress when the outcome of an event is uncertain and ________.

Stress has ________ symptoms.

Stress symptoms can be grouped under any of the following three general categories EXCEPT ________.

A head football coach who tries to coach every phase of the team-offense, defense, and special teams-rather than delegate authority is likely to suffer from ________.

A baseball player in a slump who feels stress from trying to raise his batting average is experiencing ________ stress.

Which of the following might be a source of stress for an employee who is very happy with her job with respect to the tasks she performs, what is expected from her, and how she is supervised?

A stressor is defined as ________.

Stress is most frequently associated with ________ only.

A light-hitting baseball player who is suddenly asked to be a power hitter and hit home runs would be likely to experience ________ stress.

Potential stress can become actual stress when the outcome of an event is both ________ and important to the individual.

Behavioral effects of stress include ________.

George constantly strives to excel. He must always get the highest grade in the class and has a sense of urgency about him at all times. George probably has which of the following?

Anika loves being a professional dancer, but she feels stress from the tension-packed, high-pressure, fear-filled demands of helping motivate members of her group. She is likely to be experiencing stress from ________.

Which statement is correct?

Kara is a very relaxed, easygoing person who appears to have all the time in the world. She is never too busy to stop and chat for a moment. Kara has which of the following?

A constraint causes stress because it ________.

Which of the following might reduce a sense of task demand stress for a worker?

An actor on stage getting "up" for a performance is an example of which of the following?

An employee's blood pressure rises, indicating a(n) ________ symptom of stress.

Adverse psychological effects of stress include ________.