Do you watch too much TV? We're putting you to the test!
Are the markings2 on your TV's remote control3 worn down from too much use? Can you operate your remote control without having to look at it? Do you roll your eyes4 when an adult can't figure out how to use the remote?
If you answered yes to one or more of those questions, you might be a couch potato.
Do you know what's on TV from morning until night? Have you seen every episode of your favorite? Have you seen every episode of your favorite cartoon at least five times? Does your TV seat conform perfectly to5 your butt6?
If you answered yes to any of those questions, you probably are a couch potato.
The TV is on for 7 hours and 40 minutes each day in the average home in the United States. The average child spends more time watching TV than going to school.
Some people would never admit they watch too much TV. Maybe you are one of those people. Our Couch Potato Quiz will reveal the truth.
Finish each statement with the response that you agree with most. Write the letter on the line before each statement. Then read the directions that follow.
___1. When I first get home from school, I
a. do all my homework without TV.
b. do some of my homework with the TV on.
c. watch TV and think about my homework later.
___2. I watch at least two hours of TV
a. only once or twice week.
b. several times a week.
c. pretty much every day.
___3. Where I live, there is a TV in
a. one room.
b. two rooms.
c. three or more rooms.
___4. At dinnertime, I eat
a. at the table with my family, and the TV is off.
b. at the table with my family, and the TV is on.
c. by myself or with my family in front of the TV.
___5. My biggest form of exercise is working on my
a. body at the gym.
b. legs while running to the kitchen during TV commercials7.
c. abdominal8 stretching while reaching for a bag of chips.
___6. I use my remote control
a. only when I want to change the TV channel.
b. to watch two shows at once.
c. to surf9 through every channel during a two-minute commercial.
___7. On weekends at my house, the TV
a. stays off until there is something worth watching.
b. goes on and off all day.
c. never goes off, even if no one is watching it.
___8. When my friends invite me to go out with them,
a. TV is not even on my mind.
b. I set my VCR to tape all my shows.
c. I fake10 being sick to watch more TV.
How Did You Do?
Look at your answers. Count the number of times you answered with an a, b or c.
Did you answer most questions with a?
If so, you can relax (but not in front of a TV). You probably don't know the city where MTV's Real World11 takes place because you live in the real world.
Did you answer most questions with b?
If so, you likely have a TV habit, but the tube12 doesn't control you. However, the chances are you lead a simple life.
Did you answer most questions with c?
If so, we're sorry to say you are a couch potato. It is time to get a life that doesn't hinge on13 who makes it to next round of American Idol14.
你电视看得太多了吗？我们来测测你！
你的电视遥控器上的标识是否已经磨得模糊不清了？你能否不看遥控器就可以进行操作？当一个成年人不会使用遥控器时，你是否会翻他一个白眼？
如果你对上述某个或多个问题持肯定答案，你可能就是一个电视迷。
你知道电视从早到晚都播些什么节目吗？对于你特别喜欢的电视剧，你是不是没有漏掉其中任何一集？对于你尤其喜欢的卡通片，你是否都要看上至少5遍？看电视时你常坐的地方是否已经形成了你的屁股印？
如果你对上述任意一个问题持肯定答案，你可能就是一个电视迷。
在美国，一般家庭每天开着电视的时间为7小时40分钟，一般的孩子看电视比他们上学的时间还要长。
有些人决不承认他们电视看得太多了，也许你就是其中之一。让我们的《电视迷测验》告诉你真相吧。
用你最赞同的选择来完成下面的句子，把代表答案的字母写在这句话开头的横线上。然后看后面的说明。
1. 放学回家后，我首先
a. 做作业，不开电视。
b. 开着电视完成部分作业。
c. 看电视，作业过会儿再考虑。
2. 我至少每周 次要看两个小时电视。
a. 一周一次或者两次
b. 一周数次
c. 几乎每天
3. 我家里，在 放有电视机。
a．一个房间里
b．两个房间里
c. 三个或者更多的房间里
4. 晚餐的时候，我
a. 跟家人一起就餐，不开电视。
b. 跟家人一起就餐，开着电视。
c. 跟家人一起或者一个人坐在电视机前吃。
5. 我最主要的锻炼方式是
a. 在健身房锻炼。
b. 在电视插播广告期间往厨房跑练练腿。
c. 伸手拿薯片的时候伸展一下腹肌。
6. 我用遥控器
a. 只是为了换频道。
b. 为了同时看两套节目。
c. 在两分钟的广告时间里把每个频道都扫一遍。
7. 周末，我家的电视机
a. 关机，直到有好节目时才开。
b. 一天到晚不停地开关
c. 一直开机，即使没人看。
8. 朋友们邀请我出去玩时，
a. 我根本不想看电视这事。
b. 我用录像机把我要看的节目都录下来。
c. 我装病，好呆在家里多看电视。
做得怎么样？
来看看你的答案。数一数你选择a, b或c的次数。
你大部分答案选a吗？
那么，你可以放松一下（当然不是在电视前）。你很可能不知道音乐电视的“真实世界”节目到了哪个城市，因为你生活在真实世界里。
你大部分答案选b吗？
那么，你很可能有看电视的习惯，但是电视尚未主宰你的生活。然而，你可能生活很单调。
你大部分答案选c吗？
那么，我们遗憾地告诉你：你是一个电视迷！现在是该改变一下生活方式的时候了，你的生活不该围着谁能进入下一轮“美国偶像”运转。
1. couch potato （美国俚语）指大部分时间穿着内衣裤，坐在或躺在沙发上，一边喝啤酒，一边看电视的人。这种人通常体形很胖，像个土豆，故名“沙发土豆”，意译为“电视迷”。
2. marking n. 标记
3. remote control 遥控器
4. roll one's eyes 翻白眼，这个动作通常表示无奈、不以为然、不相信等含义。
5. conform to 与……一致
6. butt n. （俚语）臀，屁股
7. commercial n. 电视广告片
8. abdominal adj. 腹部的
9. surf v. 冲浪
10. fake [feik] v. 假装
11. Real World 由Mary-Ellis Bunim和Jonathan Murray在“音乐电视”开办的一个反映真人日常家居生活的节目——《真实世界》。1992年首次开播，现已至第15期，每一期节目都会选择一个城市作为举办点。
12. the tube [tju?蘼b] n. 电视机
13. hinge on 依赖
14. American Idol 由美国福克斯公司主办的一个电视竞赛节目——《美国偶像》。年龄在16－24岁之间的年轻人都可以报名参赛。预赛首先在各大城市举行，再由评委选出30人进入为期3周的演唱比赛，电视观众可以打电话为他们喜爱的前3名选手投票，胜出的前10人进入下一轮持续数周的角逐。最后的获胜者将被誉为“美国偶像”，并会获得与大唱片公司签约的机会。