2023-24 PAU Texts 27 November 2023

Text 11: https://www.nbcnews.com/better/health/

Binge watching
You sit yourself down in front of the TV after a long day at work and decide to
start watching that new show everyone's been talking about. Cut to midnight
and you've crushed half a season — and find yourself tempted to stay up to
watch just one more episode, even though you know you'll be paying for it at
work the next morning. t happens to the best of us. Thanks to streaming plat-
forms like Netflix and HBO, we're granted access to several hundred show op-
tions that we can watch all in one sitting — for a monthly fee that shakes out to
less than a week's worth of lattes. What a time to be alive, right?

And we're taking full advantage of that access. According to a survey done by
the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average American spends around 2.7
hours watching TV per day, which adds up to almost 20 hours per week in total.

As for the amount of binge watching we're doing, a Netflix survey found that 61
percent of users regularly watch between 2-6 episodes of a show in one sitting.
A more recent study found that most Netflix members choose to binge-watch
their way through a series versus taking their time — finishing an entire season
in one week, on average (shows that fall in the Sci-Fi, horror and thriller cat-
egories are the most likely to be binged).

In fact, according to Nielsen, 361,000 people watched all nine episodes of sea-
son 2 of 'Stranger Things,' on the first day it was released.

Of course, we wouldn't do it if it didn't feel good. In fact, the Netflix survey also
found that 73 percent of participants reported positive feelings associated with
binge-watching. But if you spent last weekend watching season two of
"Stranger Things" in its entirety, you may have found yourself feeling exhausted
by the end of it — and downright depressed that you're out of episodes to
watch.

There are a handful of reasons that binge-watching gives us such a high — and
then leaves us emotionally spent on the couch. Here's a look at what happens
to our brain when we settle in for a marathon, and how to watch responsibly.

Watching episode after episode of a show feels good — but why is that? Dr.
Renee Carr, Psy.D, a clinical psychologist, says it's due to the chemicals being
released in our brain. "When engaged in an activity that's enjoyable such as
binge watching, your brain produces dopamine," she explains. "This chemical
gives the body a natural, internal reward of pleasure that reinforces continued
engagement in that activity. It is the brain's signal that communicates to the
body, 'This feels good. You should keep doing this!' When binge watching your
favorite show, your brain is continually producing dopamine, and your body ex-
periences a drug-like high. You experience a pseudo-addiction to the show be-
cause you develop cravings for dopamine."
2023-24 PAU Texts 27 November 2023
Text 11: https://www.nbcnews.com/better/health/

I. Answer the following questions using your own words but taking into ac-
count the information in the text. (2 points: 1 point each)

a. So, after all, what is binge watching?

b. What is the effect of dopamine on our body?

II. Are the following statements true (T) or false (F)? Identify the part of
the text that supports your answer by copying the exact passage on the
answer sheet. (1.5 points: 0.5 each)

a. Payment for streaming series is something quite affordable

b. Season 2 of Stranger Things made the fans feel depressive.
c. Only chemists have dopamine released on their brains.

III. Find a synonym for each of the four words below from these six options.
(1 point: 0.25 each)

crushed lattes downright high couch cravings

a. Hot espressos served with hot milk.

b. Upholstered sofa.
c. Strong and eager desires.
d. Completely, thoroughly.

IV. Choose a, b, or c, in each question below. Only one choice is correct.

(1.5 points: 0.5 each)

1. Watching a new season of a series...

a. tends to start in order to go with the popular flow..
b. is a popular trend in and outside the US
c. is detrimental for brain activity.

2. A Netflix survey shows that…

a. ¾ of the population do not believe in binge watching.
b. Almost 75% of viewers felt satisfied when watching one episode.
c. 73 out of 100 viewers were satisfied with intensive series watching.

3.Dopamine...
a. is a treatment against binge watching..
b. is a chemical drug.
c. is a neurotransmitter that makes you feel good.

Part B. Composition (130 to 150 words approximately) (4 points)

What is your favourite TV series? Why?

2023-24 PAU Texts 27 November 2023
Text 11: https://www.nbcnews.com/better/health/