The key answer of exercise 3

b)

1. You're competing with everyone around you in your area of work.
2. Doing things more slowly, as in the past, was also stressful.
3. You couldn't achieve anything until you received a reply to your letter.
4. People expect you to be available all the time.
5. Everyone can see what everyone else is doing.
6. People want to be immediately successful.

d)

1. 'that' refers back to 'the fact that life is more stressful than it used to be'
2. 'it' refers back to the phrase 'pitted against other people'
3. 'you're absolutely right' refers back to 'life at the moment is more about being in competition with other people'
4. 'you do as well' refers back to 'I remember a time'
5. 'that' refers back to 'there's no hiding place'