Stress, Substance Abuse & a Healthy Lifestyle is one of 9 topics in the Grade 12 Life Orientation CAPS syllabus, covered across 3 lessons on Study Vault. Below are real practice questions from this topic with full worked answers.
Sample practice questions
Easy
1. Stress is best described as:
The body's natural physical and psychological response to a perceived challenge, threat or demand
A sign of serious mental illness in all cases
Something that only affects adults, never adolescents
A purely psychological phenomenon with no physical component
Answer: The body's natural physical and psychological response to a perceived challenge, threat or demand — Stress is the body's natural physical and psychological response to a perceived challenge, threat or demand, involving hormones like adrenaline and cortisol.
Easy
2. Which of the following is a healthy coping strategy for stress, according to this lesson?
Regular physical exercise and sufficient sleep
Substance use to numb difficult feelings
Complete social withdrawal from friends and family
Aggressive or explosive expressions of frustration
Answer: Regular physical exercise and sufficient sleep — Healthy coping strategies include regular exercise, sufficient sleep, supportive relationships, relaxation techniques, a balanced routine, and breaking tasks into manageable steps.
Medium
3. What common term describes the body's hormonal response (adrenaline and cortisol) that prepares it for action under stress?
Answer: Fight-or-flight response — The "fight-or-flight" response describes the body's hormonal reaction to a perceived challenge or threat, releasing hormones like adrenaline and cortisol to prepare for action.
