In an age when we people have shorter attention spans▼ than a goldfish's, the popularity of slow TV in Norway may seem baffling. Everyone is rushed off their feet in their daily lives. Our fast-paced lifestyle is evident in the entertainment and news we watch, reducing information into compact packages▼ for audiences. In Norway, however, they have slowed down the pace of modern life with the concept of slow TV.
Stemming from Andy Warhol's 1963 film Sleep, which features a man sleeping for five hours, slow TV has taken a while to emerge over the years. Back in 2009, Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) showed a minute-by-minute coverage▼ of a scenic seven-hour train journey between Bergen and Oslo. It did so to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Norway's Bergen Railway. Before it aired, however, NRK did not have high expectations for the program. They thought it would only attract a select few who would appreciate its efforts. Picture their surprise when they discovered that more than a million viewers tuned in.
Afterwards, NRK broadcasted more programs over the years to the delight of more than half of Norway's population. These include a 134-hour cruise, an eight-hour knitting session, and a 30-hour interview, which broke the world record for longest interview. Inspired by NRK's success, both the UK's BBC and the US' Travel Channel have decided to get in on the slow TV sensation. The UK released its version of slow TV earlier this year, while the US aired a 12-hour road trip this past Black Friday▼.
Many curious viewers were astonished at how much they enjoyed the programs, which they found rather relaxing. They felt like they were actually taking part in the activities. Furthermore, slow TV gives people the time to pay attention to things as they take place, reminding them to enjoy each moment and celebrate life's simple pleasures.
1. Why did NRK show a train journey between Bergen and Oslo?
(A) To break the world record for longest running TV episode.
(B) To show people the sights around Oslo.
(C) To honor 100 years of the Bergen Railway.
(D) To get as many viewers as they could.
2. Where did slow TV originally come from?
(A) One of the US' television programs first promoted slow TV.
(B) A Norwegian tradition of taking a seven-hour train ride.
(C) The UK's slow TV movement that took over Europe.
(D) A movie made 50 years ago by Andy Warhol.
3. According to the reading, which of the following is listed as a program of NRK?
(A) An interview lasting more than two days.
(B) A sea voyage that lasted for more than five days.
(C) A seven-hour plane ride from Bergen to Oslo.
(D) A 12-hour road trip between countries.
4. What is the reason why slow TV's success seems strange?
(A) Viewers can receive compact packages from NRK delivered to their homes.
(B) It does not seem to fit into the modern world's fast-paced lifestyle and entertainment.
(C) People want to watch slow TV so badly that they rush home after work.
(D) The UK thought that the programs would only be liked by a small group of people.
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