Final answer:
Rueben's adjustment to continual stress aligns with the 'stage of resistance' in the General Adaptation Syndrome, where the body tries to adapt and maintain homeostasis despite ongoing stress challenges.
Step-by-step explanation:
Rueben's acclimation to a persistently high level of stress corresponds to the stage of resistance, which is the second phase of Hans Selye's General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS).
The stage of resistance follows the initial 'alarm reaction', where the body's fight-or-flight response is activated in the face of a stressor.
In this second stage, the body adapts to the stressor and seeks to maintain homeostasis, despite ongoing stress. This stage may enable Rueben to continue functioning, but at a cost, as the body's resources are continually being utilized to cope with stress, which can lead to long-term health issues such as hypertension or coronary artery disease if the stress persists without adequate recovery or intervention.