《大学英语读写》课程教学资源（B）Ⅱ_大学英语读写（B）Ⅱ_Unit five

NEWSTANDARDSECOND第二版EDITIONOLLEGE ENGLISH综合教程2Real CommunicationAn Integrated CourseNNU·南京师花大学制作版权所有外语教学与研究出版社ANJINGNORMALUNIVERSITY

TextLeisure inactivities - or how torelax and do nothingAboutthetextGotothetext

Text Leisure inactivities – or how to relax and do nothing About the text Go to the text

TextLeisure inactivities - or how to relax and do nothing1Centuries ago people didn't have much free time, because everyonewas working too hard. In Britain in the 19th century, people hadmore time off, but the Victorians thought relaxing and doingnothing was a sin. So to avoid temptation, they invented footballrugby and cricket. People took up more gentle leisure activitieslike bird-watching, gardening and trainspotting, and it was evenpossible simply to watch a sport and give the impression that youwereactuallydoing something useful.Translation

Leisure inactivities – or how to relax and do nothing 1 Centuries ago people didn’t have much free time, because everyone was working too hard. In Britain in the 19th century, people had more time off, but the Victorians thought relaxing and doing nothing was a sin. So to avoid temptation, they invented football, rugby and cricket. People took up more gentle leisure activities like bird-watching, gardening and trainspotting, and it was even possible simply to watch a sport and give the impression that you were actually doing something useful. Text

Text2Oneinstance of this is cricket,whichisa peculiar gamewith weirdrules, where nothing happens for five days, at the end of whichthe players often decide to call it a draw. And everyone, playersand spectators, feel perfectly fulfilled by this non-event. It's a goodexample of what we can now call a leisure inactivity.3 Gradually over the years,leisure inactivities have involved evenless interaction.In the 1990s a new leisure creature evolved, onewho thinks that lying on the sofa watching sport or DvDs on thetelevision is the most exciting inactivity they can manage. This is thecouchpotatoTranslation

2One instance of this is cricket, which is a peculiar game with weird rules, where nothing happens for five days, at the end of which the players often decide to call it a draw. And everyone, players and spectators, feel perfectly fulfilled by this non-event. It’s a good example of what we can now call a leisure inactivity. 3Gradually over the years, leisure inactivities have involved even less interaction. In the 1990s a new leisure creature evolved, one who thinks that lying on the sofa watching sport or DVDs on the television is the most exciting inactivity they can manage. This is the couch potato. Text

Text4 So who wants to be a couch potato? Well, as a matter of fact, manypeople do, and for understandable reasons. Maybe it's your oneday off in the week. Maybe you just got back from work or school.Maybe you're tired and just want to chill. For the couch potato,every activity is too much trouble, and laziness is an art form.s How do you become a couch potato? It's easy. Sit down in acomfortable place, such as a reclining chair, a beanbag or ... youknew it was coming... a couch. Don't sit on a potato. Make sureyou have everything you need, snacks (especially potato chips- noserious couch potato would eat anything else), drinks, magazinesandatellyTranslation

4 So who wants to be a couch potato? Well, as a matter of fact, many people do, and for understandable reasons. Maybe it’s your one day off in the week. Maybe you just got back from work or school. Maybe you’re tired and just want to chill. For the couch potato, every activity is too much trouble, and laziness is an art form. 5 How do you become a couch potato? It’s easy. Sit down in a comfortable place, such as a reclining chair, a beanbag or . you knew it was coming . a couch. Don’t sit on a potato. Make sure you have everything you need, snacks (especially potato chips – no serious couch potato would eat anything else), drinks, magazines and a telly. Text

Text6 The most important piece of eguipment is of course,the remotecontrol. Without the freedom to change channel without movingfrom the couch,no couch potato would be worthy of the name.Infact, watching TV without a remote control becomes dangerouslylikephysical exercise,andprobablyshould beavoided7 Now just start watching the telly. Change channels every ten seconds, andthenmove on. Don't be too keen, try not to get too interested in anythingbecause that risks your status as a couch potato. (Remember that you havethe attention span of a Maris Piper.)Finally, ask other people to do thingsfor you, like get more food, or rent a movie. But be nice to them! if you aren'tnice,you'll probablyhave to do it yourselfTranslation

6 The most important piece of equipment is of course, the remote control. Without the freedom to change channel without moving from the couch, no couch potato would be worthy of the name. In fact, watching TV without a remote control becomes dangerously like physical exercise, and probably should be avoided. 7 Now juststart watching the telly. Change channels every ten seconds, and thenmove on. Don’t be too keen,try nottogettoo interested in anything, because thatrisks yourstatus as a couch potato.(Rememberthat you have the attention span of a Maris Piper.) Finally, ask other people to do things for you,likegetmore food, orrentamovie.But be nicetothem!If youaren’t nice,you’llprobablyhavetodoityourself. Text

Text8But with every new fashion,there's areaction.Britishfarmers wererecentlyreported by the BBC to be angry at the use of the expression couch potato,because it was damaging the vegetable's image.Potatoes areinherentlyhealthy, says the British Potato Council, and is organizing protests to demandthe removal of couch potato from the Oxford English Dictionary9 So thereyouare!CouchpotatoesarehealthyTranslation

8 But with every new fashion, there’s a reaction. British farmers were recently reported by the BBC to be angry atthe use ofthe expression couch potato, because it was damaging the vegetable’s image. Potatoes are inherently healthy,saysthe British PotatoCouncil, andis organizing proteststo demand the removal of couch potato from the Oxford English Dictionary. 9 So there you are! Couch potatoes are healthy. Text

Text1o Of course,for thetruecouchpotato, thereareinherent risks.Perhapsthegreatest of these results from the lack of exercise, and is referred to byprofessional couch potatoes as telly belly. Some, however, see their telly bellyas a mark of their dedication to their leisure inactivity,and wearit proudlyoverthe top of theirtrousers.(Interestingly,this is a highly fashionable styleknownasa muffin top.Find out why next time you're in Starbucks.)Translation

10 Of course, forthe truecouch potato,there areinherentrisks. Perhapsthe greatest of these results from the lack of exercise, and is referred to by professional couch potatoes astelly belly. Some, however,see their telly belly as a mark of their dedication to theirleisure inactivity, andwearit proudly over the top of theirtrousers.(Interestingly, thisis a highly fashionable style known as amuffintop.Find out why next time you’re in Starbucks.) Text

Text11 But times move on, and in the 21st century we now have a version of thecouch potato specially for the online activities on the computer. This is calledthe mouse potato.A mouse potato spends excessive amounts of time in frontofa computer monitor, with the same lack of interest in the outside worldas their older cousin, the couch potato. Mouse potatoes are addicted toonline gaming with other fellow tubers around the world. In fact, leaving thecomputernotonly seemspointlessbutalso risksathreatbysomerivalmousepotato in a brighter time zone across the world. For time off, they usuallyperform extensive Internet searches or participate in online chat rooms,leaving ill-informedandbadlyspeltopinionsaroundthevirtual world.andgenerallyinsultingone's intelligenceTranslation

11 Buttimes move on, and in the 21st century we now have a version ofthe couch potato specially forthe online activities on the computer. Thisis called themouse potato.Amouse potato spends excessive amounts oftime in front ofa computer monitor,with the same lack ofinterest in the outside world astheir older cousin, the couch potato. Mouse potatoes are addicted to online gaming with other fellow tubers around theworld. In fact, leaving the computer not only seems pointlessbut alsorisks a threatby somerivalmouse potato in a brighter time zone across the world. For time off, they usually perform extensive Internet searches or participate in online chat rooms, leaving ill-informed and badly spelt opinions around the virtual world, and generally insulting one’s intelligence. Text

Text12Forthemoreadventurousmousepotatoes,youcaneventraveltheworldandvisitcountriesyoumightotherwiseneverseebygoingtoCouchPotatotravelcom. You can also find out how much time you spend on your computer bylogging the distanceyourmouse travels.Thesearecalled mouse miles,andwho knows, maybe one dayyou can exchange them for more potato chips atallgoodcomputerstores13Sowitha minimumof effort youtoocanhaveyourownleisureinactivity.Become a couch potato! Earn that telly belly! Train hard as a mouse potato,and earn mouse miles. Get started today. There's so much time, and so littletodo.Translation

12Forthemoreadventurousmousepotatoes,youcaneventraveltheworldand visit countries youmight otherwiseneverseeby going toCouchPotatotravel. com.You can also find out how much time you spend onyour computer by logging the distance your mouse travels. These are called mouse miles, and whoknows,maybeone day youcan exchangethemformorepotato chipsat all good computer stores. 13Sowith a minimum of effort you too can have your own leisure inactivity. Become a couch potato! Earn thattelly belly! Train hard as amouse potato, and earn mousemiles.Getstarted today. There’ssomuch time, and solittle to do. Text ■