The farming-themed reality show Become a Farmer has taken Chinese social media by storm, shining a spotlight on agriculture — an essential part of Chinese culture. The word “farming”, however, may be
To connect these individuals
Yang Changling, chief director of the program, said the show’s intention is to showcase
One viewer said, “The distinctive program has enlightened me on the process of cultivating a grain of rice. Whoever watches the program will realize
The farming-themed program, Become a Farmer, stands out as one of the most widely discussed and popular Chinese reality
The program truthfully records 10 young men in their 20s
Before starting their rural lives, the production unit conducted training classes for these young men
The production unit attracted audience to
3 . PICKS OF THE DAY
Music: Crossfire Hurricane, BBC 4, 9 p.m.
It is a documentary that traces the eventful first 20 years of one of Britain’s most successful rock bands, The Rolling Stones. Featuring never-before-seen interviews, this 2012 film records the group’s early years through to 1981. Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, Ronnie Wood, Bill Wyman and Mick Taylor recollect key moments, including the infamous Altamont concert and the recording of cassis album Exile On Main Street.
Film: The Girl In The Spider’s Web, Film 4, 9 p.m.
Swedish hacker Lisbeth Salander is hired by computer genius Frans Balder to retrieve (找回) Firefall, a programme capable of accessing the world’s nuclear codes, which he developed for the National Security Agency. Though Salander manages to find Firefall, problems arise when Russian criminals steal her laptop. It’s not long before Salander is fighting for her life against enemies. Thriller, starring Claire Foy, Sylvia Hoeks and Stephen Merchant.
Travel: Kate Humble’s Coastal Britain, C5, 8 p.m.
Kate Humble’s starting point for the latest leg of her journey is the picturesque village of Alnmouth, once a leading grain port in the 18th century. Today, it’s known for its colourful houses and a sweep of sandy beach where Kate meets a former GP, Claire, who uses the sand to create temporary large-scale artworks and portraits, which are visible for only a few hours before the tide (潮水) sweeps them away.
Gardening: Monty Don’s Adriatic Gardens, BBC 2, 8 p.m.
The presenter begins the latest leg in the city of Trieste, near Italy’s border with Croatia. He visits a public garden created by an obsessive royal plantsman more than 150 years ago, which is now being carefully restored. Monty then heads down the Adriatic coast through Croatia to pick up the trail that the Venetians followed. The green-fingered expert ends his journey on the island of Lopud, near Dubrovnik.
1. Which channel will you choose if you are a fan of Claire Foy?| A．C5. | B．Film 4. | C．BBC 4. | D．BBC 2. |
| A．Kate. | B．Claire. | C．Mick. | D．Monty. |
| A．A film review. | B．A textbook. |
| C．An advertisement. | D．A travel brochure. |
| A．She missed the comedy last night. |
| B．She regrets spending much time on TV. |
| C．Her TV broke down due to a power failure. |
5 . A TV series in England, Away from It All, has surprised everyone by becoming a huge success with young people.
Its success is surprising because its main character is a shepherd(牧羊人), and the series is about the relaxing lifestyles of people who live in the country. There is none of the action that we usually see on TV. There are also no stressful moments, busy offices, or crowded cities. Away from It All is set in the peaceful English countryside and tells simple stories of people’s kindness.
The director of the series says its success is a sign of teenagers suffering from stress. He says that watching Away from It All helps teenagers forget about the pressures of exams and homework and the troubles that fill the world. He also claims that it’s a good sign that today’s youth are switching to happier TV series, as it shows they would like a happier and healthier life.
Although the series’ success might have a good side, many teachers and parents are worried. They say that some of their students and children are becoming couch potatoes(电视迷)and are using Away from It All as an excuse for not completing homework. Some students have even refused to study for exams because they say that they can only achieve happiness by avoiding stressful situations completely.
One mother, Lucy Linney, said of her son Patrick, “Before he started watching Away from It All, he loved challenges and volunteered every afternoon. But now he has become a couch potato. His grades have dropped and he no longer volunteers. He says it doesn’t matter as he just wants to ‘get away from it all’. ”
And what do the experts say? Paula Ray, a doctor, says that TV can influence young people’s lifestyles. But she says that if a young person reacts as strongly as Patrick, it’s likely that there are other reasons for his change in the behaviour.
1. What is the TV series Away from It All about?| A．Stressful moments. |
| B．Simple stories of people in the cities. |
| C．The relaxing lifestyles of country people |
| D．Busy offices and peaceful English countryside. |
| A．It indicates teenagers are suffering from stress. |
| B．It drives the public to focus on the health of teenagers. |
| C．It shows the youth would like a happier and healthier life. |
| D．It helps teenagers forget about the pressures of study and troubles around. |
| A．The benefit of watching the TV series. |
| B．The bad influence of the TV series on teenagers. |
| C．An excuse for not completing housework. |
| D．Happiness by avoiding stressful situations completely. |
| A．Satisfied. | B．Curious. | C．Tolerant. | D．Concerned. |
