Exercise 1. Read and retell the content of the text

Couch potatoes.

Centuries ago, people did not have much free time, because everybody was working too hard. In Britain in the nineteenth century, people had more spare time, but because the Victorians hated relaxing and doing nothing, they invented football, rugby and cricket. People took up more gentle activities too, like gardening, bird-watching and train spotting, and it was even possible simply to watch a sport and give the impression that you were actually doing something. Gradually, leisure activities have become less and less energetic interests and hobbies. But now there is a new type of person who thinks that lying on the sofa watching television on Sunday afternoon or reading the newspaper from cover to cover is the most exciting activity they can

manage. This twentieth century couch potato who has a sedentary lifestyle with no or irregular physical activity. It is commonly found in both the developed and developing world. Sedentary activities include sitting reading, watching television, playing video games, and computer use for much of the day with little or no vigorous physical exercise. A sedentary lifestyle can contribute to many preventable causes of death. Screen time is the amount of time a person spends watching a screen such as a television, computer monitor, or mobile device. Excessive screen time is linked to negative health consequences. For them, every activity is too much trouble, and laziness is an art form! So how do you spend your free time?Are you a coach potato?

Exercise 2. Answer the questions.

• What does the word “coach potato” means?
• Who hated to relax and doing nothing in the 19^th century?
• What kinds of sports games were invented at that time?
• What other gentle activities were popular?
• What kind of a new term appeared in the 20^th century?