In the natural habitat, a binge-watcher is a strange sub-species of modern human beings. They are alone and are often found lying on their bed or sofa, still as a rock, looking searchingly into their laptop or at the TV. They rarely get up, only taking occasional breaks for those urgent calls of nature. Unlike so many others of their species, they don’t sleep at the end of every day. They stay up late and are often found to have red eyes.
This, of course, is a little bit exaggerated, but for many of us, binge-watching a show is how we consume our entertainment. With streaming services bringing seemingly endless content to the tips of our finger, creators tailor their shows to our needs and tastes, while their marketing team sells it to us as the next most bingeable show. I can’t help but wonder if this way of consuming television does us any good.
We’re advised to get 7 to 8 hours of sleep per day, but staying up all night to finish shows like ‘Breaking Bad’ and ‘The Fall’, which Netflix says are binged the fastest, won’t result in 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep. Netflix’s CEO Richard Hastings told analysts at a conference, “Think about it… when you watch a show from Netflix and you get addicted to it, you stay up late at night. We’re competing with sleep.” And it isn’t only the amount of sleep we get; the quality matters too! A study published in the Journal for Clinical Sleep Medicine reported that those who binged television more often were found to have poorer sleep quality. The mental arousal we get from watching TV doesn’t lend itself to peaceful sleep.
Besides, binging TV can cause weight gain. For every extra hour of TV watched, there was a 2% increase in the prevalence of obesity, according to a study conducted by Harvard that linked TV watching to obesity in children and adolescents.
While it is true that there’s growing evidence that binging isn’t good for us, the results aren’t all hopeless. Binging, occasionally, might have some benefits. For many people, binging is a good way to socialize. It gives people something to talk about at parties and with their friends. Fans of popular shows often hold viewing parties where people can binge-watch shows together and then discuss what they just experienced! This interaction can create a sense of community for many.
For others, binging might just be relaxing. After a long day, a few hours of Friends—still one of the most popular shows on any streaming platform—can ease the stress of a long day. A study followed 240 people through their binging and recorded their stress hormones. They noted for some people that their stress hormone levels decreased during their binging experience.
With binging, there is not a “good” or “bad” answer. Like many things, the key is moderation. Watching TV can be relaxing, but only if it doesn’t stop you from exercising, taking care of your health, and fulfilling your social responsibilities.
1. What does the underlined word “tailor” in Paragraph 2 probably mean?| A．Study. | B．Sell. | C．Adjust. | D．Promote. |
| A．The amount of sleep matters more than the quality. |
| B．There’s no real harm in binge-watching a TV series. |
| C．Binging may help keep stress hormone levels stable. |
| D．Binge-watching may help increase social connections. |
| A．Supportive. | B．Unconcerned. | C．Objective | D．Doubtful. |
| A．Who Is to Blame for Binge-Watching? | B．Is Binge-Watching Good or Bad for You? |
| C．Is Binge-Watching Getting out of Control? | D．How Does Binge-Watching Affect Your Life? |
相似题推荐
In order to increase their job chances after college, Chinese students are turning to a special practice—Eiffel Tower nose jobs (鼻整形手术). The latest trend in plastic surgery promises to create a nose that is similar to the curve of the Eiffel Tower.
Surgeon Wang Xuming said: “We are influenced by the beauty of the Eiffel Tower. We are not content to just add something to the nose; we reconstruct it.” The surgery costs about US$ 10,000 and involves the enlarging of the nose using tissue from the forehead.
Hundreds of posters advertising the procedure are put up all over Chongqing city, where surgeon Xuming runs his private practice. They show a western-looking woman with an almost-to o-perfect nose, against an outline of the Eiffel Tower.
Interestingly, many young women in China are eager to achieve a western appearance, as they believe it will give them an advantage in the highly competitive job market. “Some students face a lot of employment pressure after graduation. If their facial features are good, they’ll have more chances of finding a job,” said surgeon Xuming. “We’ve had students getting the Eiffel Tower nose; it’s helped them a lot.”
Apparently, Chinese employers are quite particular about appearances and prefer attractive candidates. Some of them even go as far as putting height and weight requirements in their employment ads. Plastic surgeons across the country are reporting an increase in the number of students choosing beauty “improvement”.
According to a Mr. Li, hospital manager at surgeon Xuming’s clinic, most of their customers are female and the bill is taken care of by the family. “They usually come in with their mothers, and tend to be from well-off backgrounds.” he said.
Personally, I don’t think it so important to “improve” our appearance as long as we are skilled at our jobs. We can’t decide how we look, but we can decide how well we live and work.
1. Why do Chinese college students choose to have a nose operation?
| A．To have more chances of getting a job. |
| B．To gain a real westerner appearance. |
| C．To Take good care of their family. |
| D．To look like the Eiffel Tower. |
| A．The city of Chongqing. |
| B．A plastic surgery procedure. |
| C．The posters advertising the surgery. |
| D．Xuming’s private practice. |
| A．Most families can’t afford the expensive operation. |
| B．Their customers are usually from wealthy families. |
| C．Patients can be well looked after at the clinic. |
| D．The number of plastic surgeons is increasing. |
| A．Chinese employers only care about their employees’ appearance. |
| B．Chinese students are content with the shape of their noses. |
| C．A western face looks prettier than a Chinese one. |
| D．Skills at work speak louder than appearance. |
【推荐2】“Alexa, what’s 5 minus 3?” A 6-year-old boy recently asked that question in a video, which was popular on Twitter. Alexa, Amazon’s voice-started assistant, delivered a quick answer: 2.
It’s cute, but it raises a question that’s been on the minds of many parents and educators lately: How do virtual assistants like Alexa affect children’s learning experiences?
Clint Hill, an English teacher, says in his classrooms he often sees “children quietly talking into their phones and asking Google or other services to spell some complicated words that they don’t know.” But Hill says he doesn’t mind. “I struggle with spelling, and spellcheck on my word processing has been a lifesaver for me.” he says. “I think being able to use those technological aids is not hurting anybody,” Hill adds.
But some experts say it’s not just about learning basic math or spelling. “One of the best gifts we can give our children is doing that kind of problem-solving together,” says Diane Levin, a professor of applied human development. Levin says it’s important for children to learn to struggle—even just a little—with challenges. “They will use those skills that they’re learning for all kinds of things that come along,” Levin says.
How much concern should parents have over Alexa and their children? Every new wave of technology, from calculators to TV sets, causes a panic about its effect on children, and nostalgia (怀旧) for the past, says Dimitri Christakis, an expert in child health, behavior and development.
But he says that a child watching television is having a completely passive experience. Because new technology is interactive, “it helps understand how the world works,” Christakis says. “But while watching television, you play no role in the content,” Christakis says.
Still, he agrees that this debate is about much more than knowing what 5 minus 3 is. It’s also about developing the patience to solve problems. “That ability to stay focused,” he says, “is one of the most important developmental skills that children acquire.”
1. What can be inferred from Hill’s words?| A．Technological aids are helpful. |
| B．His students don’t use their brains. |
| C．His students aren’t focused in class. |
| D．Spelling is really difficult for small children. |
| A．They fail to solve problems. |
| B．They give children challenges. |
| C．They present a threat to teachers at school. |
| D．They are harmful to children’s development. |
| A．New technology affects children most. | B．New technology tends to cause worries. |
| C．Television has been a thing of the past. | D．Today’s parents are too concerned. |
| A．Their ability to interact with others. | B．Their ability to learn from the past. |
| C．Their ability to study technology. | D．Their ability to pay attention. |
【推荐3】The total number of domestic (国内的) trips during the past May Day holiday was 274 million, up 70.83 percent than last year. and 119. 09 percent over the same period in 2019, generating 148.056 billion yuan ($21.44 billion) in tourism profits, up 128.90 percent than last year, and 100.66 percent over the same period in 2019. As the first May Day holiday after new pandemic (流行病) policies, it was expected that people’s long-controlled desire to travel would be satisfied, but no one expected it would do so to this extent.
The outstanding tourism performance during this year’s May Day holiday mainly resulted from the improvement of public services. Actually, even before the holiday, many places were improving tourism facilities to meet the increased stream of visitors. Zibo in Shandong province, popular for its barbecue, for example, opened parking lots and toilets for the public for free. Only by improving public services can a region keep attracting tourists all the time.
The explosive growth of tourism during the May Day holiday is a manifestation of China’s economic power, especially the power of the consumer market. It also shows the faster recovery of public confidence, which will not only stimulate the growth of service consumption, but also stimulate the expansion of demand in other industries, thus promoting the expansion of overall domestic demand and helping the economic recovery to speed up.
As long as the country focuses on expanding domestic demand and does what it can do to realize the potential of domestic consumption, the continuous development of China’s economy is certain.
1. Why are the figures mentioned in the beginning?| A．To show the recovery of Chinese tourism. |
| B．To show the expectation of Chinese tourists. |
| C．To show the development of Chinese economy. |
| D．To show the improvement of our living standard. |
| A．Huge tourism profits. | B．Better public services. |
| C．Convenient holiday traffic. | D．Delicious barbecue in Zibo. |
| A．display. | B．scene. | C．cause. | D．balance. |
| A．Unclear. | B．Negative. | C．Concerned. | D．Positive. |
【推荐1】As the country’s first large-scale serial documentary shot in 8K ultrahigh-definition. The Forbidden City, a 12-episode documentary, has recently run on Beijing Satellite TV, which is in part as a celebration of the 601st anniversary of the founding of the imperial (帝王的) palace during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368—1911).
The documentary gathered 12 first-class singers to respectively render (演唱) theme songs for each episode, creatively interpreting milestone historical chapters with meaningful music.
Wu Zhiyong, the chief producer and chief director, recalled that he visited the Forbidden City for the first time when he was a youngster, feeling it a pity upon discovering that the guide he followed offered a flawed introduction to the site.
“Since then I had wished for many years that I could make a documentary to retell the real history of the Forbidden City in detail. Luckily with the Palace Museum’s support, our crew managed to learn a lot of knowledge, interviewing many historians and shooting the most beautiful, tranquil moments of the imperial palace.” said Wu.
The crew, consisting of nearly 150 people, had spent around three years to conduct investigations, polishing the script with the help of more than 30 experts from multiple departments of the Palace Museum, covering a wide range of areas including ancient architecture, drawing and calligraphy, court wares and royal history.
Aside from the Forbidden City, the crew made up of three camera teams to simultaneously work on different sites also traveled to dozens of cities, such as Nanjing and Suzhou in Jiangsu province as well as Fuzhou, Xiamen and Quanzhou in Fujian province, to obtain more content about Chinese history related to the stories happening inside the great palace.
1. What’s the purpose of shooting this documentary?| A．To further the historic study. | B．To entertain the viewers. |
| C．To celebrate its magnificence. | D．To memorize the founding of the palace. |
| A．damaged | B．crowded | C．mistaken | D．mixed |
| A．The Forbidden City was founded in the 15th century. |
| B．The documentary was merely shot in five cities in two provinces. |
| C．The theme songs of the episodes are performed by a famous singer. |
| D．The documentary was created by the historians of the Palace Museum. |
| A．European court buildings | B．Royal family life |
| C．History of drawings | D．Works of famous calligraphers |
Below is a web page from http://www.tvguide.com/.
Tonight’s TV Hot List: Sunday January 31, 2010
Grammy Awards 8/7c CBS
Beyoncé and Taylor Swift are ready to take home a lot of hardware tonight as they lead all artists with 10 and eight nominations. The ladies also perform, along with fellow Album of the Year nominees the Black Eyed Peas, Lady Gaga and the Dave Matthews Band. In addition, Bon Jovi, Green Day, Lady Antebellum, Maxwell, Pink and Zac Brown Band will also take the stage. But perhaps the most expected moment is the Michael Jackson tribute (吊唁礼物), which features the 3-D mini-movie “Earth Song” and will be highlighted by performers Celine Dion, Jennifer Hudson, Smokey Robinson, Carrie Underwood and Usher.
Maurer 9/8c NBC
A mysterious company named Sabre, headed by an attractive, stubborn CEO (Kathy Bates), appears out of nowhere and buys out Dunder Mifflin. As Michael is unwilling to follow Sabre’s new policies, Andy and Erin write a welcome song to greet the company. Meanwhile, Pam and Jim hope to get accepted into a desired local day-care center.
Surviving Survivor 8/7c CBS
It’s hard to believe it’s been 10 years since the first season of Survivor. But tonight ten of the game’s most iconic players, including previous winners Richard Hatch, Parvati Shallow and Tom Westman, discuss the series in detail and provide insights into how the game is actually played and the impact it’s had on their lives. In addition, updates on beloved former castaways, like Ethan Zohn, Rupert Boneham and Elisabeth Hasselbeck, are given.
Private Practice 10:01/9:01c ABC
So Maya’s pregnant and wants to have the baby. What to do now? Dink (Stephen Lunsford), the boy who did his part to get her into this mess, has a solution: He wants to marry her. You can imagine how Sam and Naomi will feel about that. And if that won’t raise the histrionic level enough for you, how about this: A couple has two dying daughters, and only one can be saved. Their choice. And Brian Benben is back, so expect more Pete-Violet- Sheldon angst.
1. Edna is crazy about pop stars, so she will most likely choose __________ to enjoy.| A．Grammy Awards |
| B．Maurer |
| C．Surviving Survivor |
| D．Private Practice |
| A．a CEO |
| B．a company |
| C．an employee in the company |
| D．a piece of office equipment |
| A．a musical play |
| B．a game show |
| C．a love story |
| D．a cultural documentary |
| A．are loved by all viewers |
| B．are on the top list for the week |
| C．are broadcast on the same channel |
| D．are accessible on the same night |
【推荐3】During the outbreak, watching TV shows has become the most popular activity, according to a survey by Chinese market research company Guideline Research. The survey also points out that people have many ways to watch shows apart from cable TV. They include smartphones, computers, and tablets.
It’s true that TV is not usually watched on an actual TV anymore. Technology has not only changed where but also how we watch TV.
Streaming (流媒体) networks, rather than live TV, have helped viewers watch their favorite shows when it’s most convenient for them. In the US, content providers like Netflix and Amazon Prime keep people entertained. Users can choose which services offer the shows and movies they like.
Binge-watching (刷剧) has become a new trend due to some companies releasing entire seasons at once. Without having to wait for next week’s episode (集), viewers can watch the whole season in a day, or at whatever pace (速度) they choose. Netflix has also released a choose-your-own-adventure movie, where your choices can affect how the story ends, an idea not possible before with traditional TV.
User-generated (用户创造的) content apps like TikTok are also blurring (模糊)the lines of what is considered TV. This may be the biggest change to the TV landscape, as anyone can compete with professional, big-budget (大制作的) TV shows. This trend shows no sign of slowing down.
1. What does “They” refer to in Paragraph 1?| A．Research companies. | B．Means of watching shows |
| C．People. | D．TV shows. |
| A．Cable TV. | B．TV shows. |
| C．Technology. | D．Tablets. |
| A．Users can watch shows free. |
| B．Users can change the content of a movie. |
| C．Users can enjoy a whole season at once. |
| D．Users can enjoy clearer pictures. |
| A．A diary. | B．A guidebook. |
| C．A novel. | D．A magazine. |
【推荐1】The regular world, which is presented to us by our five senses—you could call it reality(现实) 1.0, is not always the most user-friendly place. We get lost in unfamiliar cities; we meet people whose language we don’t understand. So why not try the improved version(版本): augmented reality (AR：增强现实) or reality 2.0? AR technology adds computer-produced images on the real world by using a mobile phone camera or special video glasses.
Early forms of AR are already here. With the right downloads, smart phones can deliver information about nearby ATMs and restaurants and other points of interest. But that’s just the beginning. A few years from now, the amount of information available will have increased hugely. You will not only see that there’s a Chinese restaurant on the next block, but you will be able to see the menu and read reviews of it.
This is where the next revolution(革命) in computing will take place: in the interface (界面) between the real world and the information brought to us via the Internet. Imagine bubbles(气泡) moving slowly before your eyes, filled with cool information about everything that you see in front of you.
Let’s jump ahead to ten years from now. A person trying to fix their car won’t be reading a book with pictures; they will be wearing a device(设备) that shows 3D computer pictures onto the equipment under repair, labelling parts and giving step-to-step guidance.
The window on the AR world can be a smart phone or special video glasses. But in ten years’ time these will have been replaced by contact lenses (隐形眼镜) with tiny LEDs, which present something at a readable distance in front of the eye. So a deaf person wearing these lenses will be able to see what people are saying.
The question is, while we are absorbed in our new augmented reality worlds, how will we be communicating with each other?
1. What is the topic of the text?| A．The next information technology revolution. |
| B．Early forms of augmented reality technology. |
| C．The differences between reality 1.0 and reality 2.0. |
| D．The relationship between people living in reality 2.0. |
| A．The menu. | B．The block. |
| C．The revolution. | D．The restaurant. |
| A．Protect people’s eyes. | B．Show text and images. |
| C．Warn users of dangers. | D．Replace video glasses. |
| A．are surprised at | B．are addicted into |
| C．are capable of | D．are qualified for |
【推荐2】Solar panels—also known as “photovoltaic” panels—are used to turn sunlight into electricity. Most solar panels are placed on land in large collections called solar farms. But recently people have begun to explore putting floating solar panels on waler. Because these panels float, some people call them “floatovoltacs”.
The idea isn’t as unusual as it might seem. After all, any solar panel has to be waterproof, since it will be out in the rain. There are already several large floatovoltaic farms in Asia. On land, so panels are held up by special frames (框架). On the water, foatovotaicis are placed on a floating platfom attached to the boto of a lake or reservoir (水库). Floating solar panels cost about 25% more than those placed on land.
The researchers behind the new study looked at 14.5555 reservoirs worldwide. They used computer progams to figure out how much electricity could be produced yearly by covering 30% of these reservoirs with floating solar panels. The answer was surprisingly large—more than twice the amount of energy the United States generates in a year And 10 times as much energy as all the solar power currently being generated in the world.
Floatovoltaics can also help save water by limiting evaporation (蒸发) from reservoirs. The scientists say that solar panels covering just 30% of the reservoirs’ surfaces could save as much water as 300 million people would use in a year. There are several other reasons that make floatovoltaics a good idea. Photovoltaic panels work better when they’re not extremely hot. The water helps cool the panels so that they create more energy.
Floatovoltaics aren’t perfect. Covering too much of a reservoir with panels could affect the plants and animals in the water. The scientists say it will be important to study how floating panels will affect water in each reservoir. Focusing first on man-made reservoirs will avoid some of those problems.
1. What is the purpose of paragraph 2?| A．To list solar panels’ unusual functions. |
| B．To show disadvantages of solar panels on land. |
| C．To introduce the workability of floating solar panels. |
| D．To make a comparison between different solar panels. |
| A．By looking at reservoirs worldwide. |
| B．By making computer-aided estimates. |
| C．By building floatovoftaic farms in the US. |
| D．By processing data given by specialists. |
| A．They are perfect except for the high cost. |
| B．They function well in extreme hot weather. |
| C．They will eventually replace photovoltaic panels. |
| D．They may cause potential harm to water ecosystem. |
| A．Floating Solar Panels—Making Energy, Saving Water |
| B．Floating Solar Panels—A New Way to Cool the Planet |
| C．Floating Solar Panels: Our Final Choice |
| D．Floating Solar Panels Take Us Back to Water |
【推荐3】If you can potty-train (如厕训练) a child, so can you train a cow. At least, that was the theory a group of researchers in Germany decided to test, aiming to find a solution to the environmental damage caused by animal waste.
Farmed cattle produce about 66-88 pounds of waste and 8 gallons of urin (尿液) each day and are free to relieve themselves where they please. However, the spread of their waste into the soil can have negative effects on the environment.
The main question for Langbein, an animal psychologist at the Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN) in Germany, and his team was: “Why shouldn’t cattle be able to learn how to use a toilet? Animals are quite clever, and they can learn a lot.” Langbein said in a statement.
The team of scientists from FBN and FLI in Germany and the University of Auckland in New Zealand began to train the calves to use toilets, in a process they called “MooLoo training”. In the first stage of training, the cattle were put in a closed toilet. And whenever they urinated, they were given a reward of barley (大麦). “Once they were allowed outside, the calves would go in the toilet to get their reward, but they soon learned that there’s only a reward if they urinate.” FBN’s Neele Dirksen, first author of the study, told CNN.
To encourage calves to use the toilets, researchers also came up with a punishment. “We first used in-ear headphones and we played a very noisy sound whenever they urinated outside,” said Langbein. “We thought this would punish the animals, but they didn’t care. Eventually, a splash of water worked well as a gentle punishment.”
The calves were trained for 45 minutes every other day. And after 10 training days, the team had managed to train 11 out of the 16 calves involved in the experiment. The study shows that it is possible to train calves to use toilets, and Langbein said he hoped that “in a few years all cows will go to a toilet.”
1. What is the main purpose of “MooLoo training”?| A．Reducing the amount of cattle’s waste. |
| B．Teaching cattle to use toilets where they please. |
| C．Preventing the cattle’s waste spreading into the soil. |
| D．Protecting the environment from being polluted by animal waste. |
| A．Offering barley. | B．Giving water splash. |
| C．Playing noisy sound. | D．Wearing in-ear headphones. |
| A．Useless. | B．Doubtful. | C．Effective. | D．Cruel. |
| A．Cattle are clever enough to use toilets | B．Cattle’s waste harms the environment |
| C．Scientists adopt new methods to raise cattle | D．MooLoo training helps improve the environment |
