Congratulations, you did it. You finished the exams. After several intense weeks of intense preparation, you can finally take a deep breath and relax. However, as you start to relax, some of you might feel an unexpected sense of unease. Despite the relief that should be flooding in, something doesn’t quite feel right. This could be a sign of post-exam blues!

    Post-exam stress refers to the psychological discomfort that can arise after completing exams or undergoing testing. You might worry about your performance or results, or you could experience a general sense of unease and anxiety that doesn’t go away even after the exams are over. The emotional impact and severity of post-exam stress can differ from person to person and may change over time, but it is characterized by a persistent feeling of stress that can affect both your physical and mental well-being.

    Feeling overwhelmed during exam season is entirely normal. You might assume that once the exams are complete, any stress or anxiety will simply disappear. However, this is not always the case. During the intense study and exam periods, both your body and mind are in a heightened state of focus, using a significant amount of your energy and adrenaline (肾上腺素) to get through exam season. This can lead to feeling “wired” or on high alert, which might be beneficial for concentration during the exams but can be counterproductive when you try to relax afterwards. Additionally, you may also be worried about your results, which can equally make it difficult to de-stress after your exams.

    Post-exam stress can present itself through different symptoms, both physical and mental. Here are some symptoms of post-exam stress to be aware of: Difficulty sleeping; Feeling restless, or nervous; Headaches; Feeling more emotional than usual, such as teary or angry; Social withdrawal.

    It’s normal to experience some stress after exams. You need to adjust your mindset, practice positive thoughts and try something new that you’ve always want to do.

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1.1. What can be inferred about post-exam stress?

A It only affects students physically.

B Its severity is consistent among all students.

C It can persist even after exams are over.

D It is characterized by immediate relief after exams.

解析：选C。推理判断题。根据第二段的“you could experience a general sense of unease and anxiety that doesn’t go away even after the exams are over”和“but it is characterized by a persistent feeling of stress”可推断出，考后焦虑即使在考试结束后一段时间内也可能持续存在。故选C。

2.2. What might be a reason for post-exam stress? ①The students are still in a state of high alert. ②The students are not used to being relaxed. ③The students are worried about their performance. ④The students lack physical exercise during exam preparation.

A ①②

B ②③

C ②④

D ①③

解析：选D。细节理解题。根据第三段的“both your body and mind are in a heightened state of focus, using a significant amount of your energy and adrenaline to get through exam season. This can lead to feeling ‘wired’ or on high alert”和“Additionally, you may also be worried about your results”可知，学生可能仍然处于高度警觉状态，并且担心自己的考试成绩。故选D。

3.3. What does the underlined word “counterproductive” mean?

A 一气呵成的.

B 百年不遇的.

C 满腔热忱的.

D 适得其反的.

解析：选D。词义猜测题。根据该段中的“However, this is not always the case.”和“This can lead to feeling ‘wired’ or on high alert, which might be beneficial for concentration during the exams but”可知，你可能会认为一旦考试完成，任何压力或焦虑都会消失。在紧张的学习和考试期间，你的身心都处于高度集中的状态，消耗大量的精力和肾上腺素来度过考试，这可能有助于在考试期间集中注意力，然而，情况并非总是如此，因此可推测接下来谈论的情况有不好（转折）的结果，即当你事后试图放松时，可能会适得其反。故选D。

4.4. Which of the following is a symptom of post-exam stress?

A Experiencing no emotions after exams.

B Unwillingness to participate in school activities.

C Not worrying about exam results at all.

D Gaining weight rapidly due to overeating.

解析：选B。细节理解题。根据第四段列举的考后压力的症状中的“Social withdrawal”可知，不合群也是考后焦虑的一种，“不愿意参加学校活动”是不合群的一种表现形式。故选B。