Bust My Stress: Quiz

Instructions: Answer each question based on what you learned in the "Bust My Stress" lesson.

Multiple Choice

1. What is the definition of stress?
A) A permanent condition that cannot be changed
B) A body's reaction to any change that requires an adjustment or response
C) A disease that only affects adults
D) A type of food that increases anxiety

2. Which of the following is short-term stress that goes away quickly, often associated with a "fight or flight" response?
A) Chronic stress
B) Traumatic stress
C) Acute stress
D) Toxic stress

3. What is "eustress"?
A) A negative reaction to stress
B) A positive reaction to stress that has a beneficial effect on health
C) Excessive, prolonged activation of stress systems
D) Stress caused only by traumatic events

4. According to the lesson, how many hours of sleep do teens need each night?
A) 4-6 hours
B) 6-7 hours
C) 8-10 hours
D) 10-12 hours

5. Why does exercise help reduce stress, according to the resource?
A) It burns off sugary foods
B) It increases the release of endorphins, "feel-good" chemicals in the brain
C) It replaces the need for sleep
D) It eliminates the need for positive self-talk

6. What is resilience, as defined in the lesson?
A) The ability to overcome serious hardship and adapt well to adversity
B) A type of negative stress
C) A coping strategy involving caffeine
D) The same thing as chronic stress

7. Which of the following is stress that lasts for a longer period of time and can harm the body, mind, and life?
A) Acute stress
B) Chronic stress
C) Eustress
D) Positive stress response

8. According to the Yerkes-Dodson Law described in the lesson, what happens at the "optimal level" of stress?
A) There is no stress at all
B) There is enough stress to challenge you, but not too much to distress you
C) Stress is at its highest possible level
D) Performance decreases no matter the stress level

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Short Answer

9. Name two healthy coping strategies mentioned in the resource for dealing with stress, and briefly explain how each one helps.

10. Explain the difference between "distress" and "toxic stress" using definitions from the resource.

11. According to the resource, why might eating sugary or processed foods when stressed actually make you feel worse instead of better?

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Answer Key

1. B
2. C
3. B
4. C
5. B
6. A
7. B
8. B

9. Answers may include any two of: meditating/deep breathing (lowers heart rate, relieves panic), getting adequate sleep (8-10 hours; helps the body recover), talking to a friend or trusted adult (helps make sense of the issue, reduces isolation), exercising (releases endorphins), eating a nutritious diet (stabilizes blood sugar and emotions), positive self-talk (improves mood and lowers stress), avoiding excess caffeine (reduces anxiety).

10. Distress is a negative reaction to stress that can manifest through changes in behavior. Toxic stress is the excessive or prolonged activation of these negative stress response systems in the body and brain—essentially a more extreme, sustained version of distress.

11. Sugary, processed foods stimulate the brain's pleasure center but cause blood sugar to spike and crash like a "roller coaster," which ultimately makes a person feel more stressed and more emotional rather than calmer.