HOW AMERICANS SPEND THEIR LEISURE TIME

The form and type of play and sports life which evolve in any group or nation mirror the
development in other segments of the culture.
American Academy of Physical Education

How do Americans' values affect how they spend their leisure time?

How Americans Spend Their Leisure Time A 229

 BEFORE YOU READ
Preview Vocabulary
A. Read these sentences from the chapter. Then use context clues to figure out
the meanings of the AWL words in italics.
1. The form and type of play and sports life which evolve in any group or nation
mirror the development in other segments of the culture.
2. The competitive ethic in organized sports contains elements of hard work and
physical courage. Hard work is often called “hustle," “persistence,” or “never
quitting” in the sports world, while physical courage is referred to as “being
tough” or “having guts.”
3. “The Bible says leisure and lying around are morally dangerous... sports
keep us busy.... There are probably more really committed Christians in
sports, both collegiate and professional, than in any other occupation in
America.”
4. Some people are particularly concerned about the injuries that high school
players get in football games. The pressure to “hit hard” and win high school
games is intense.
5. In the past, teams and most players stayed in one city and bonded with the
fans. Now professional sports are more about money and less about team
loyalty.
6. Many worry about the amount of sex and violence that children are exposed
to as they watch TV, play games, and explore the Internet.
7. Mississippi officials attribute the drop in childhood obesity to a local focus on
the issue, a 2007 law that mandated more physical education, and a decision
by the state school board to put more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains on
menus.
8. First Lady Michelle Obama started a campaign to fight childhood obesity by
stressing children's health and fitness. She advocated for federal legislation
requiring schools to offer healthier lunches, and she is encouraging kids to
exercise more.

Now write the correct AWL word next to its definition.

_1. willing to work very hard at something

_2. parts or features of a whole system

_3. develop by gradually changing

_4. to say that an event is caused by something or

someone

_5. very strong

_6. shown, faced with

_ 7. acted and spoke out in support of

_8. developed a special relationship

230 Chapter 10
B. Classification: Recreational activities are usually not competitive and are
done for fun, relaxation, and, sometimes, self-improvement. Sports are more
organized and usually involve competition and rules of how to play.

Write S if the word or phrase concerns sports and R if it has to do with

recreation.

_ 1. team

_ 2. hobby

_ 3. handicrafts

_ 4. hustle

_ 5. gold medal

_ 6. do-it-yourself projects

_ 7. professional tennis

_ 8. going to the theater

_ 9. videogames

_10. skiing

Preview Content
A. Think about the quotation by the American Academy of Physical Education
at the beginning of the chapter. Then discuss these questions with your
classmates.
1. How do you think Americans like to spend their leisure time?
2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of playing competitive sports?
3. What do you know about Americans’ eating habits? What is “junk food”?
4. What is the impact of television and video games on children?
5. How has technology impacted leisure time?

B. Read the headings in the chapter and look at the illustrations. Write five topics
that you predict will be covered in this chapter.

1._______

2. ____

3. _______

4. __

5. ____

How Americans Spend Their Leisure Time 231

SPORTS AND AMERICAN VALUES
Most social scientists believe that the sports 3 The American ideal of competition is also
that are organized by a society generally at the very heart of organized sports in the
reflect the basic values of that society and United States. Many Americans believe
attempt to strengthen them in the minds that learning how to win in sports helps
and emotions of its people. Therefore, develop the habits necessary to compete
organized sports may have a more successfully in later life. This training, in
serious social purpose than spontaneous, turn, strengthens American society as a
unorganized play by individuals. This is whole. “It is commonly held,” says one
certainly true in the United States, where sports writer, “that the competitive ethic
the three most popular organized sports taught in sports must be learned and
are American football,* basketball, and ingrained1 in youth for the future success
baseball, with soccer gaining in popularity. of American business and military efforts.”
In fact, about two-thirds of American boys
Traditionally, Americans have seen
play organized sports outside of school,
organized sports as an example of equality
and more than half of the girls do, too.
of opportunity in action. In sports,
people of different races and economic 4 Amateur athletics, associated with schools
backgrounds get an equal chance to and colleges, are valued for teaching young
excel. For this reason, notes sociologist people traditional American values. The
Harry Edwards, Americans have viewed competitive ethic in organized sports
organized sports as “a laboratory in which contains elements of hard work and
young men, regardless of social class, can physical courage. Hard work is often called
learn the advantages and rewards of a “hustle,” “persistence,” or “never quitting”
competitive system.” Although Edwards in the sports world, while physical courage
specifically mentions young men, young is referred to as “being tough” or “having
women also compete in organized sports guts.” Slogans are sometimes used to drive
without regard to their race or economic home the competitive virtues for the
background. The majority of American young participants:
football and basketball players, both college
Hustle—you can't survive without it.
and professional, are African-American,
and about one-third of professional A quitter never wins; a winner never quits.
baseball players are Hispanics or Latinos. It's easy to be ordinary but it takes guts to
Women’s sports have grown in popularity excel.
in the United States, and they now have
5 In the process of serving as an inspiration
more funding and stronger support
for traditional basic American values,
at the college level than in the past.
organized sports may be considered as part
The Olympics provide evidence of the
of “the national religion,” a mixture of
increased interest in women’s organized
patriotism and national pride on the one
sports. American women have won gold
hand, with religious ideas and symbols on
medals for several team sports—softball,
the other (see Chapter 3). Billy Graham,
basketball, and soccer.
a famous American Protestant religious
leader, once observed: “The Bible says

*Generally- in the United States, when the word “football” is used, it refers to the American game of football. What is

known as football in other countries is called “soccer” in the United States.

1 ingrained: attitudes or behavior that are firmly established and therefore difficult to change

232 ik Chapter 10
 leisure and lying around are morally 7 Critics have pointed out that there is a
dangerous ... sports keep us busy ... long tradition of coaches and players who
There are probably more really committed have done just this. Vince Lombardi, a
Christians in sports, both collegiate and famous professional football coach, was
professional, than in any other occupation often criticized for stating that winning
in America.” On the other hand, in is the “only thing” that matters in sports.
recent years there have been a number Woody Hayes, another famous football
of examples of professional sports stars coach, once said: “Anyone who tells me,
behaving very badly, and there have been ‘Don’t worry that you lost; you played a
significant scandals in college sports as good game anyway,’ I just hate.” Critics
well. believe that such statements by coaches
weaken the idea that other things, such as
Competition Carried to an Extreme? fair play, following the rules, and behaving
with dignity when one is defeated, are also
6 Although sports in the United States are
glorified by many, there are others who are important. Unfortunately, many coaches
especially critical of the corrupting power still share the “winning is the only thing”

of sports when certain things are carried philosophy.

to excess. An excessive desire to win in 8 There is, however, also a tradition of
sports, for example, can weaken rather honorable defeat in American sports.
than strengthen traditional American Sociologist Harry Edwards, for example,
values. has pointed out:

American football is a rough sport that sometimes causes injuries.

How Americans Spend Their Leisure Time *k 233

 The all-important significance of winning is has been a lot of attention paid to head
known, but likewise, there is the consoling2 injuries—brain concussions that cause
"reward" of the "honorable defeat." problems as athletes age. There is evidence
Indeed, the "sweetness" of winning is that these injuries cause brain damage that
derived . . . from the knowledge of having
can be severe, even resulting in dementia.4
defeated a courageous opponent who
People are particularly concerned about
performed honorably.
the injuries that high school players get in
9 When the idea of winning in sports is football games. The pressure to “hit hard”
carried to excess, however, honorable and win high school games is intense. In
competition can turn into disorder and some parts of the country, especially in the
violence. In one baseball game, the players South, boys start playing tackle football in
of two professional teams became so angry elementary school, bringing the risks of
at each other that the game turned into a competitive pressure to nine- and ten-year-
large-scale fight between the two teams. olds. Concussions are also a problem for
The coach of one of the teams was happy soccer players, particularly for girls (when
about the fight because, in the games “heading”) because their necks are not as
that followed, his team consistently won. strong as boys.
He thought that the fight had helped to
11 Most Americans would probably say that
bring the men on his team closer together.
competition in organized sports does
Similarly, a professional football coach
more to strengthen the national character
stated, “If we didn’t go out there and
than to corrupt it. They would probably
fight, I’d be worried. You go out there and
say that eliminating competition in
protect your teammates. The guys who
sports and in society as a whole would
sit on the bench, they’re the losers.” Both
lead to laziness rather than hard work
coaches seemed to share the view that
and accomplishment. One high school
if occasional fights with opposing teams
principal, for example, described the
helped to increase the winning spirit of
criticism of competitive sports as "the
their players, so much the better. Hockey
revolutionaries’ attempt to break down the
coaches would probably agree. Professional
basic foundations upon which society is
hockey teams are notorious3 for the fights
founded.” Comments of this sort illustrate
among players during games. Some hockey
how strong the idea of competition is in
fans seem to expect this fighting as part of
the United States, and how important
the entertainment.
organized sports are as a means of
10 There are some who criticize this violence maintaining this value in the larger society.
in sports, particularly in football, which
12 Another criticism of professional sports is
may be America’s favorite spectator
that the players and the team owners get
sport. From time to time articles appear
too much money, while fans have to pay
in newspapers or magazines such as
more and more for tickets to the games.
Sports Illustrated, one of the nation’s
Basketball, baseball, and football stars get
leading sports magazines, criticizing the
multi-million-dollar contracts similar to
number of injuries that have resulted
rock singers and movie stars. Some have
from the extreme roughness of the game,
asked whether these players are really
increased by a burning desire to defeat
athletes or entertainers. Furthermore,
one’s opponent. In recent years, there
2 consoling: making someone feel better when he or she is feeling sad or disappointed
3 notorious: famous or well-known for something bad
4 dementia: loss of the ability to think normally

234 k Chapter 10
 players are often traded to other teams, or by 2004, the problem had become so
choose to go as free agents, and a whole significant that President George W Bush
team may move to another city because of mentioned it in his State of the Union
money In the past, teams and most players address:
stayed in one city and bonded with the Athletics ploy such on important role in
fans. Now professional sports are more our society, but, unfortunately, some in
about money and less about team loyalty. professional sports ore not setting much
of on example. The use of performance-
13 College football and basketball programs enhancing drugs like steroids in baseball,
are also affected by big money. The teams football, and other sports is dangerous,
of large universities generate millions of and it sends the wrong message—that
dollars, and there is enormous pressure there are shortcuts to accomplishment, and
on these sports programs to recruit top that performance is more important than
athletes and have winning seasons. The character.
pressure is on the young athletes as well. The use of these drugs has called into
There are some high school students who question the achievements of some
would not be able to afford college if they baseball players and their records for
did not get a sports scholarship. Once they homeruns, etc., and several players have
are in college, it is often difficult to balance been denied admission to the Baseball Hall
the demands of daily sports practice and of Fame.
the season game schedule with the need to
15 The case of cyclist Lance Armstrong
study. Some colleges have a better rate of
and his use of performance-enhancing
athletes graduating than others. In addition
drugs has received intense international
to the danger of failing academically, there
attention. Armstrong was widely respected
is another reason why some athletes do not
in the United States (although many
finish college. The very best football and
overseas were suspicious) for his seven
basketball players are often recruited by
Tour de France wins and his charity work
professional teams while they are still in
fighting cancer. The U.S. Post Office was
school. Some students may choose to give
even an official sponsor of his cycling
up studying for a college degree for the
races. It was a shock to many Americans
chance to earn big money and early success
when the evidence of his drug use was
as a pro.
revealed, and he was stripped of his
14 Another problem facing organized sports cycling victories.
is the use of performance-enhancing
drugs.5 With the pressure to win so Recreational Activities
strong, a number of athletes have turned
16 Unlike organized sports, what is generally
to these drugs. Although the use of most
called recreation in the United States is
performance-enhancing drugs is illegal, it
not expected to encourage competition.
has now spread from professional sports For this reason, recreation is much more
down to universities and even high schools
spontaneous and serves the individual’s
and middle schools. The use of these needs away from the competitive world of
drugs puts the health of the athletes in work. Nevertheless, much can be learned
danger, and it is ethically wrong. It goes about the values of Americans from an
against the American values of equality examination of the kinds of recreation
of opportunity and fair competition. But in which they engage. Many recreational

5performance-enhancing drugs: drugs such as steroids that some athletes use illegally to improve their strength or
endurance

How Americans Spend Their Leisure Time "k 235

 activities are organized at the local participate in a marathon race. In addition
level and are paid for (in part) by local to the famous Boston and New York
governments. Local Parks and Recreation marathons, there are races in many other
organizations often offer a wide range of cities and even in small towns, drawing
activities to community members.There is from several hundred to thousands of
usually a Parks and Recreation department participants. Few of the runners expect
that operates a recreation center that has to win—most just want to finish the race,
fitness equipment and offers classes, and and over a half a million people do finish
it maintains outdoor facilities. These may a marathon each year. The number of
include public parks, playgrounds, soccer people participating in marathon races has
and baseball fields, basketball and tennis gone down dramatically, but the number
courts, golf courses, walking and bike finishing them has gone up.
trails, and swimming pools. These facilities
19 Most races are open to all, young and old
are open to all at little or no cost. During
alike, even those in wheelchairs, and many
good weather, many communities sponsor
encourage walkers as well as runners.
outdoor activities and festivals that feature
Charity races are also very popular.
events such as food tasting, outdoor
Participants ask people to sponsor them by
concerts, county fairs, contests, and races.
contributing to the charity if they finish
Often, these are attended by whole families
the race. The distances vary from 5K to
and groups of friends.
10K to full marathons and often include
17 Some Americans prefer recreation that social events. The Race for the Cure to
requires a high level of physical activity. raise money for breast cancer research
This is true of the most popular adult draws women who are breast cancer
recreational sports: jogging or running, survivors and their friends and family, and
tennis, and skiing. It would seem that those who participate to honor a loved one
these Americans carry over their belief in who has (or had) the disease.
hard work into their world of play and
20 The interest that Americans have in self-
recreation. The expression "We like to
improvement, traceable in large measure
work hard and play hard” is an example of
to the nation’s Protestant heritage (see
this philosophy.

18 Physical fitness is a
way of life for these
Americans. Some of
them regularly work
out at community
gyms or private sports
clubs—lifting weights,
swimming, playing
squash or racquetball;
participating in aerobic
exercise classes; or
using exercise bikes,
treadmills, rowing
machines, or stair-
steppers. Some choose
to do long-distance
Serious runners train hard for their races.
running and may

236 Chapter 10
 Chapter 3), is also
carried over into the
recreation habits of
some people. It is
evident in the joggers
who are determined to
improve the distance
they can run, or the
people who spend
their vacation time
learning a new sport
such as sailing or
scuba diving. The
self-improvement
motive, however, can
also be seen in many
other popular forms of
recreation that involve
little or no physical Many Americans enjoy rock climbing, white-water rafting, and motorcycling.

activity.
home and take some risks. Adventure
21 Interest and participation in cultural travel has grown to be a multi-billion-
activities, which improve people’s minds dollar business. Millions of Americans
or skills, are also popular. Millions of have bought mountain bikes to explore
Americans go to symphony concerts, the wilderness on their own. Many others
attend live theater performances, visit are choosing to go white-water rafting,
museums, hear lectures, and participate mountain climbing, rock climbing,
in artistic activities such as painting, skydiving, helicopter skiing, and bungee
performing music, or dancing. Many jumping. U.S. park officials complain
Americans also enjoy hobbies such as about the number of people who take
weaving, needlework, candle making, life-threatening risks in national parks
wood carving, quilting, and other and have to be rescued. “It is as if they are
handicrafts.6 Community education and looking for hardship,” one park official
recreation programs offer a wide range stated. “They seem to enjoy the danger and
of classes for those interested in anything the physical challenge.”
from using computers to gourmet cooking,
23 Not all Americans want to “rough
learning a foreign language, writing, art,
it” while they are on their adventure
self-defense, yoga, and bird-watching.
holidays, however. There are a number
22 The recreational interests of Americans of travelers who want “soft adventure.”
also show a continuing respect for Judi Wineland, who operates Overseas
the self-reliance, and, sometimes, the Adventure Travel, says, “Frankly, it’s
adventure and danger of frontier life. amazing to us to see baby boomers seeking
While some choose safe pastimes such creature comforts.” On her safari trips to
as handicrafts, gardening, or DIY (Do It Africa, she has to provide hot showers, real
Yourself) projects like building bookcases beds, and night tables. The Americans’ love
in their den, others are ready to leave of comfort, mentioned in Chapter 5, seems

6 handicrafts: skills needing careful use ofyour hands, such as sewing or making baskets

How Americans Spend Their Leisure Time ~k 237

 to be competing with
Prevalence of Self-Reported Obesity Among U.S. Adults
their desire to feel self-
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2011
reliant and adventurous.
Others simply enjoy
being outdoors in the
United States fishing,
birding, or observing
other wildlife. More than
90 million Americans a
year participate in these
activities. I 15%-<20%
| 20%-<25%
Health and Fitness 25%-<30%
□ 30%-<35%
24 In spite of all these 1 >35%
opportunities to be
physically active, however, A
Source: Center for Disease Control.
many Americans are not
physically fit, or even try to be. The overall problem may be that there is too much
population is becoming more overweight, information in the media, and much of
due to poor eating habits and a sedentary7 it is contradictory. For thirty years, the
lifestyle. Government studies estimate that government encouraged people to eat a
fewer than half of Americans exercise diet high in carbohydrates and low in
in their leisure time. Experts say that it fat to avoid health risks such as heart
is not because Americans “don’t know disease and certain types of cancer. Many
what’s good for them”—they just don’t do Americans ate low-fat, high-carbohydrate
it. By mid-2000, the Centers for Disease foods and gained weight. Then in the early
Control (CDC) sounded the alarm— 2000s, high-protein, low-carbohydrate
almost two-thirds of Americans were diets became popular.
overweight, and more than one in five
26 Many Americans have tried a number of
were obese. The CDC reported that obesity
diets, searching for the magic one right
had become a national epidemic. After
for them. Some overweight people say
smoking, obesity was the number two
the diet advice is so confusing that they
preventable cause of death in the United
have just given up and eat whatever
States. The government began a campaign
they want. Since 1994, the government
to urge people to lose weight and get more
has required uniform labeling so that
exercise. But by 2011, the numbers were
consumers can compare the calories, fat,
worse: More than one-third of American
and carbohydrates in the food they buy.
adults were obese. Incidentally, the obesity
More than half of Americans say they pay
rate is higher in some states than others.
attention to the nutritional content of the
The map above shows the percent of obese
food they eat, but they also say they eat
people in each state.
what they really want when they feel like
25 It’s not that Americans lack information it. For example, they may have switched
on eating well. Newspapers and magazines to skim milk but still buy fancy, fat-rich
are full of advice on nutrition, and diet ice cream. As one American put it, “Let’s
books are best-sellers. Indeed, part of the face it—if you’re having chips and dip as
a snack, fat-free potato chips and fat-free
7sedentary: doing or requiring much sitting

238 ~k Chapter 10
 sour cream just don’t taste as good as the when they eat so much restaurant and
real thing.” packaged food. It takes time to prepare
fresh vegetables and fish; stopping at a
fast-food chain for fried chicken on the
Nutrition Fact?
Ssrvbg Sizeio2 $6$
,smmz Pet Container 4.5
way home from work is a much faster
alternative. Often, American families eat
ttO calottes "> Amount P«rS«rvtos
Calories rtO Calories f?c^£T
“on the run” instead of sitting down at the
Total Fat 3g
70% less faN table together.
nUH RIGVIAR Saturated Fat 0$ &
tWATCI OURS
?m smvix&s .. Trans Fat 0g|
Cholesterol Omg f 29 First Lady Michelle Obama started a
Sodium 170mg ff campaign to fight childhood obesity by
V Total Carbohydrate <
Sgfibel stressing children’s health and fitness.
Dietary Fiber 3g Jjj* j
Sugars gg "
Her program is called “Let’s Move,” and
%p$&kin pi Protein 4g

\&wtwdt
it focuses on better nutrition as well as
i 4#«***vvU. A net/

Nutrition label from a small bag of chips increased physical activity. She advocated
for federal legislation requiring schools
27 Experts say that it is a combination to offer healthier lunches, and she is
of social, cultural, and psychological encouraging kids to exercise more. At
factors that determine how people eat. the White House, she planted a garden
A Newsweek article on America’s weight with the help of kids from D.C. inner city
problems referred to “the culture of schools and called attention to the fact that
overindulgence”8 seemingly ingrained in many poor inner city neighborhoods do
American life. “The land of plenty seems not have grocery stores that sell fresh fruits
destined to include plenty of pounds as and vegetables. Many have only small
well,” they concluded. Part of the problem neighborhood stores that sell chips and
is that Americans eat larger portions9 sodas and other “junk food” that is high
and often go back for second helpings, in in calories and low in nutritional value.
contrast to how much people eat in many Often, both children and adults who live
other countries. in poverty have higher rates of obesity
than the general population.
28 Another factor is Americans’ love of fast
food. Although the fast-food industry There is evidence of some improvement in
is offering salads on its menus, most the rates of childhood obesity. Mississippi
Americans still prefer “junk food.” is among the most obese states in the
They consume huge quantities of pizza, nation, according to the Centers for
hamburgers, French fries, and soft drinks Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP),
at restaurants, not only because they like but its rate of childhood obesity has
them, but also because these foods are dropped in recent years. The state made
often the cheapest items on the menu. important changes in the time for exercise
Another significant factor is Americans’ and the type of food served in the public
busy lifestyle. Since so many women schools:
are working, families are eating a lot of Mississippi officials attribute the drop to a
fast food, frozen dinners, and restaurant local focus on the issue, a 2007 law that
takeout. Some experts believe that mandated more physical education and a
Americans have really lost control of their decision by the state school board to put
eating; it is not possible to limit calories more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
on menus.
8 overindulgence: the habit of eating or drinking too much
9 portions: the amount of food for one person, especially when served in a restaurant

How Americans Spend Their Leisure Time 'k 239

31 Not everyone thinks that having the 33 Another irony is that although television
government mandate exercise programs or seems to promote images of slender,
school lunch menus is a good idea, but it physically fit people, the more people
does seem to be helping. The problem of watch TV the less likely they are to
childhood obesity is truly alarming: Nearly exercise. Television has a strong effect
one in three children in the United States on the activity level of many Americans.
is overweight or obese. The numbers are Some people spend much of their free time
even higher in the African-American and lying on the couch watching TV, channel
Hispanic communities, where nearly 40 surfing,* and eating junk food. They are
percent of the children are overweight or called “couch potatoes,” because they are
obese. nothing but “eyes.” (The small marks on
potatoes are called eyes.) Couch potatoes
would rather watch a baseball game on
TV than go play softball in the park with
friends, or even go to a movie. Cable and
satellite TV bring hundreds of stations
into American homes, so there is an almost
limitless choice of programs. Americans
spend more of their leisure watching TV
than doing any other activity.

34 Another challenge is the effect of all this

technology on children. Some worry that
American children and young people
First Lady Michelle Obama has created a program to fight
childhood obesity. are spending too much time watching
television, using the Internet, and playing
The Impact of Television, Video Games, video games. One effect is that channel
and the Internet surfing and surfing on the web shorten
a child’s attention span. Also, research
32 Ironically, as Americans have gotten
shows that multitasking is really switching
heavier as a population, the image of
rapidly from one task to another, and it is
a beautiful woman has gotten much
not really doing several tasks at the same
slimmer. Marilyn Monroe, a movie star of
minute. There is evidence that the brains
the 1950s and 1960s, would be overweight
of children and young people are being
by today’s media standards. Television
rewired by these activities. There is an
shows, movies, and TV commercials
effect on both their minds and their bodies.
feature actresses who are very slender.10
Clearly, they are not getting enough
Beer and soft drink commercials, for
exercise. The government estimates that
example, often feature very thin girls in
eight to 18-year-olds spend an average
bikinis. As a result, many teenage girls
of 7.5 hours a day using entertainment
have become insecure about their bodies
media, including TV, computers, video
and so obsessed11 with losing weight that
games, cell phones, and movies. Only
some develop eating disorders such as
one-third of high school students get the
anorexia or bulimia.
recommended levels of physical activity.

10slender: thin, graceful, and attractive

11 obsessed: thinking about a person or a thing all the time and being unable to think of anything else
* Constantly clicking the remote control to change from channel to channel. (Note also the term ",surf the web” that
means to go from site to site, and surfing refers to the sport of riding the waves on a special board.)

240 k Chapter 10
 Leisure Time on an Average Day

Other leisure activities, 17 minutes

Relaxing and thinking, 17 minutes
Playing games, using computer Watching TV,
for leisure, 25 minutes 2.7 hours

Participating in sports,
exercising, recreation, 19 minutes

Reading, 18 minutes

Total leisure
Socializing and communicating, and sport time
38 minutes = 5.0 hours

Note: Data include all persons age 15 and over. Data include all days of the week and are annual averages for 2010.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, American Time Use Survey.

35 Others worry more about the quality of industry, and helps companies implement
what children are watching on TV, the responsible online privacy practices.”
content of video games, and what they
are seeing on the Internet. Many worry
about the amount of sex and violence
that children are exposed to as they watch
TV play games, and explore the Internet.
Americans face a constant dilemma12—
how to balance the right to free speech
with the need to protect children and
maintain standards of decency.13 Because
Americans place such a high value on
individual freedom, particularly freedom
of speech, they have traditionally been
very hesitant to censor,14 or even restrict,
the flow of information by any means of
communication. True censorship occurs
when the government sets the standards;
most Americans would prefer that the
entertainment industry regulate itself,
“On the Internet, nobody knows you’re a dog. ”
and the movie industry does have a rating
system for films. The Entertainment
36 On the one hand, some people believe
Software Rating Board (ESRB) “assigns the
that the federal government should
age and content ratings for video games
regulate the Internet to protect children.
and mobile apps, enforces advertising and
There have been instances where adults
marketing guidelines for the video game
have met children or teenagers over the

12 dilemma: a situation in which you have to make a difficult choice between two or more actions
13 decency: basic accepted behavior, especially moral and sexual behavior
14 censor: to examine books, movies, or letters to remove anything that is offensive

How Americans Spend Their Leisure Time ik 241

 Internet and have persuaded them to meet majority of Americans work more than
in person. In several instances, teenagers forty hours a week, and many only get
have been kidnapped. Parents have great one or two weeks a year of paid vacation
fear about their children meeting strangers time. When the economy has a downturn,
on the Internet and about their possible many are afraid to take the short amount
exposure to pornography. It is against the of vacation time they have. The U.S.
law to send pornography through the U.S. Travel Association reports that the average
mail, and some wish it were outlawed on American vacation is now 3.8 days; people
the Internet as well. (Child pornography are taking more long-weekend trips, and
is already against the law.) But it is not fewer one- or two-week-long trips.
just children who can get into trouble on
38 Robinson has organized the Work to Live
the Internet. Many adults have been the
campaign, with the goal of changing
victims of scams where they are tricked
the national labor laws so that everyone
into giving personal information that
would be entitled to at least three weeks
allows criminals to steal money from their
of vacation per year. He says that our
bank accounts, or even their whole identity.
founding fathers Thomas Jefferson and
The anonymity of the Internet is valued
John Adams “believed that democracy
by many, but it also has hurt a number of
was at risk if all attention in society was
people. Most alarming is the cyberbullying
focused only on making money. It’s hard
of some teenagers that has been so hurtful
to be an engaged citizen, not to mention
that the victims have committed suicide.
a parent or actual human, when the
37 On the other hand, many Internet users overwork culture abducts you from all
believe that government regulation could other responsibilities in life.” He argues
threaten the growth and vitality of the that Americans would be even more
Internet. Some would argue that the lack productive if they could have a month of
of regulation has permitted the Internet’s vacation like most Europeans do.
explosive growth and the development of
39 Vacation time renews the spirit and
new technologies to deliver it. Wireless
gives people the energy and vitality to
technology now allows Americans to
lead productive lives. Leisure time in
access the Internet just about anywhere,
the United States offers something for
including, ironically, many fast-food
everyone; the only complaint that most
restaurants. Many people are happy that
Americans have is that they do not have
technology has made it possible for them
enough of it. Americans, like people
to communicate with just about anyone
everywhere, sometimes choose recreation
anywhere. However, this 24/7 access (24
that just provides rest and relaxation.
hours a day, 7 days a week) has a huge
Watching television, going out for dinner,
impact on leisure time and Americans’
and visiting friends are simply enjoyable
ability to relax. Joe Robinson, in his book
ways to pass the time. However, as we
Work to Live: Reclaim Your Life, Health,
have seen, millions of Americans seek new
Family, and Sanity, states, “The line
challenges involving new forms of effort
between work and home has become so
even in their leisure time. “Their reward,”
blurred that the only way you can tell
states U.S. News & World Report, “is a
them apart is that one has a bed.” Robinson
renewed sense of vitality,”15 a sense of a
and others are trying to get American
goal conquered and confidence regained in
companies to offer more vacation time. The
dealing with life’s “ups and downs.”

15 vitality: great energy and cheerfulness, and the ability to continue working effectively

242 Chapter 10
AFTER YOU READ
Understand Main Ideas
Review the predictions you made on page 231 before you read the chapter. Were
your predictions correct? Write the number of the paragraph where you found
the information next to each prediction.

Understand Details
Write the letter of the best answer according to the information in the chapter.

_ 1. Organized sports in a society

a. are a poor reflection of the values of that society.
b. are a good reflection of the values of that society.
c. are leisure activities and games which tell us very little about the
social values of a country.

_ 2. Which of the following ideals is at the very heart of organized sports

in the United States and is, therefore, the most important ideal
expressed in organized sports?
a. self-reliance
b. self-denial
c. competition

_ 3. Which of these statements is not true?

a. Billy Graham, a Protestant religious leader, has criticized sports for
having a negative effect on the morals of young Americans.
b. Most Americans would probably agree that organized sports are an
important way for young people to learn to compete.
c. Organized sports are an example of the “national religion,” the
mixing of national pride and religious values.

_ 4. Vince Lombardi, a famous professional football coach, expressed the

view that
a. sports help boys grow into men.
b. a good football player makes a good soldier.
c. winning is the only thing that matters.

_ 5. Leading sports publications such as Sports Illustrated have stated that

a. sports are good in general, but excessive violence in sports should
be stopped.
b. sports corrupt the American spirit and should be replaced with
noncompetitive activities.
c. many aspects of American culture, such as music and art, have
been replaced by the love of sports.

_ 6. Some of the most popular forms of recreation in the United States,

such as jogging, reflect the attitude that
a. Americans like the challenge of adventure sports.
b. contact with nature is good for the soul of man.
c. it is good to work hard and to play hard.

How Americans Spend Their Leisure Time *k 243

 7. Which of these statements is not true?
a. Many Americans like to spend their leisure time learning new skills
in order to improve themselves.
b. The American respect for self-reliance can be seen in the popularity
of adventure travel, where people often have to rough it.
c. Because of their active lifestyles, the number of people who weigh
more than they should is decreasing.

8. According to the chapter, why do so many Americans have poor

eating habits?
a. They are unaware of the dangers of high-fat diets.
b. The foods that they buy in the stores have no labels that give
nutritional information.
c. They are too busy to cook, and they eat a lot of fast food.

9. Which of these statements is not true?

a. The majority of American homes have TV systems that can get fifty
channels or more.
b. Most Americans have such a busy lifestyle that they watch very
little TV.
c. American children watch a lot of television, and play a lot of video
games.

10. Which of these statements is true?

a. Most Americans are not concerned about the level of violence on
television.
b. The federal government censors programs on TV to maintain high
standards of decency.
c. Some children's television programs are educational and have
much less violence than adult programs.

Talk About It

Work in small groups and choose one or more of the following questions to
discuss.
1. What is your favorite sport, and why? Have you ever played on a team?
Explain.
2. What are popular forms of recreation in your country? What do you like to
do in your leisure time?
3. How would you compare the day-to-day level of physical activity of people in
your country with that of Americans?
4. Do you think college sports teams are really like professional teams? Should
the players be paid? Why or why not?
5. What is the most violent sport? Have you ever been at a sports event where
there was fighting? Explain.

244 Chapter 10
SKILL BUILDING
Improve Your Reading Skills: Scanning
Scan the chapter for these names and terms. Then identify each with a short
phrase.

1. junk food: _

2. couch potato: _

3. Vince Lombardi: _

4. channel surf: _

5. Michelle Obama: _

6. cyberbullying: _

7. Lance Armstrong: _

8. Judi Wineland: _

9. CDC:_

10. Joe Robinson: _

Develop Your Critical Thinking Skills

Work with a partner and find examples of how Americans’ traditional values
affect organized sports and other ways Americans spend their leisure time.
Put the examples into the correct categories. First match the examples with
the values they illustrate, and then look for additional examples in the chapter.
Answers may be used more than once.

e.h 1. individual freedom 4. competition

_2. self-reliance 5. material wealth/the American

Dream

_3. equality of opportunity _ 6. hard work

a. both boys and girls play organized sports

b. hustle and persistence, never quitting
c. great emphasis on winning in sports
d. many blacks on professional basketball teams
e. Americans free to pursue a great variety of individual interests in their leisure
time
f. love of adventure travel in the wilderness, roughing it
g. many children have smartphones and other digital devices

How Americans Spend Their Leisure Time ik 245

 h. professional sports team members free to change teams as free agents
i. emphasis on children playing competitive sports
j. popularity of do-it-yourself projects
k. buying teenagers cell phones and computers
l. having very little vacation time

Build Your Vocabulary «

Opposites
Read the sentences below that contain pairs of opposites in parentheses. Choose
the correct words and write them in the sentence blanks.

1. Baseball, football, basketball, and soccer are popular (individual/team)

__ sports.

2. Slogans are sometimes used to drive home the competitive (vices/virtues)

_for the young participants: A quitter never wins; a

(winner/loser)_never quits.

3. When the idea of winning in sports is carried to excess, honorable

competition can turn into (order/disorder)-and

violence.

4. There are some who (criticize/praise) _this violence

in American sports, particularly in football, which is probably America's

favorite (participant/spectator) -- sport.

5. (Amateur/Professional)_athletics, associated with

schools and colleges, are valued for teaching young people traditional

American values.

6. Most Americans would probably say that competition in organized sports

does more to (corrupt/strengthen)_the national

character than to (corrupt/strengthen)-it.

7. Some Americans prefer recreation that requires a high level of (physical/

mental)__activity such as jogging, tennis, and skiing.

246 -k Chapter 10
 8. The overall population is becoming overweight due to poor eating habits

and a (sedentary/active)_lifestyle.

9. Another irony is that although television seems to promote images of

(obese/slender)_, physically fit people, the more

people watch TV, the less likely they are to exercise.

10. Unfortunately, most experts would probably say that the 1990s brought

few (positive/negative)_changes in children’s

programming.

More AWL Words

Test your knowledge of these AWL words by matching them with their
definitions.

comment guidelines item overseas range

contract illustrate label principal relax

derive image lecture project , symbol

equipment injury likewise psychological uniform

1. most important

2. a piece of paper with information about the thing

attached to it

3. a carefully planned work

4. a single thing in a group

5. the way a person or product is presented to the public

6. different things of the same general type

7. in the same way

8. to make the meaning of something clearer by giving

examples

9. a legal written agreement

10. a word, principle, or instruction about the best way to

do something

11. in a foreign country across the ocean

How Americans Spend Their Leisure Time ifc 247

 _ 12. something that represents an idea

_ 13. a wound to your body caused by an accident or attack

_ 14. being the same in all its parts

_ 15. relating to the way that people’s minds work

_ 16. a long talk given to a group

_ 17. special things needed for a sport

_ 18. an opinion that you express

_ 19. to have its source in (something)

_ 20. to feel calm and comfortable

Play a Vocabulary Game

Work in small groups, and think of words and phrases that would fit into
categories. Challenge another group to a competition—you tell them the words
and phrases, and they guess the category. You can use information in this chapter
or choose other vocabulary having to do with sports, recreation, health and
fitness, diet, television, or computer technology. Here are some suggestions for
categories:
things that have to do with soccer
(names of) basketball players
(names of) popular diets
things relating to culture or the arts
things you can do on the Internet
things teenagers like to do
food that is good for you
junk food
things that might happen to a couch potato
things a couch potato might use
dangerous leisure activities
equipment you need for football
Olympic sports

Classify Words
Work with a partner. Circle the words or phrases that do not belong in each
category.
Example: team sports: football, baseball, hockey,(tennis i
Tennis does not belong because it is an individual sport, not a team sport.

248 k Chapter 10
 1. adventure sports: helicopter skiing, African safaris, white-water rafting,
gardening, rock climbing, bungee jumping, skydiving, mountain climbing
2. things parents worry about: pornography, explicit sex on TV, strangers
on the Internet, gourmet cooking, childhood obesity, shortening of child’s
attention span, violence
3. reasons why many Americans are overweight: fast-food restaurants,
larger portions, second helpings, sedentary lifestyle, overseas travel, poor
eating habits, lack of exercise
4. hobbies: weaving, playing professional football, painting, performing
music, bird-watching, making candles, Chinese cooking, learning a foreign
language, traveling
5. things made possible by technology: wireless networks, handicrafts,
laptop computers, accessing the Internet in a Starbucks, cell phones, email,
instant messaging, paging, Internet games, walkie-talkies, exchanging digital
photos

EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE

Think, Pair, Share
How do you prefer to spend your leisure time? Read this list of leisure-time
activities and decide which you enjoy most. Number them in order of importance,
with number I as your favorite choice. Share your list with a partner and then
with another pair of students.

Go on a walk or hike Go swimming

Read a good book Listen to music

See a movie Attend a concert

Play a sport Have a family picnic

Work out at a gym See a play

Have dinner at a restaurant Visit a museum

Watch TV Go shopping

Go to a friend’s house Watch a game

Have a friend visit you Other:

How Americans Spend Their Leisure Time "A 249

 Ask Yourself / Ask Americans
If possible, ask several Americans the following questions. Then do a poll among
your friends or classmates. Compare their responses with the pie chart on page
241 from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, American Time Use Survey.
1. Think about your daily schedule. How much time each day do you spend
doing each of these activities:
Working and related activities
Leisure and sports
Household activities
Eating and drinking
Caring for others
Sleeping
Other activities_
2. What are your two or three favorite leisure activities?

People Watching

In some countries, lunch is a leisurely meal that may take two or three hours. Some
people eat at a nice restaurant with friends or co-workers, while others return home to
eat with their families. For many, lunch is the main meal of the day. In contrast, many
Americans eat lunch “on the run.”

If possible, observe Americans eating lunch. Compare their lunch habits with
those of your culture. Record your observations in the chart. Compare your
observations with those of your classmates.

Observation Questions Americans at Lunch at Lunch

1. Where are they eating?

2. What are they eating?

3. What size are the portions?

4. How long do they stay?

5. Do they take any food

with them when they leave?

250 'k Chapter 10

Use the Internet
Choose one of these activities and do research on the Internet with a partner.
1. Work with a partner to learn about popular American diets. Use the Internet
and find information on several diets. Decide which one you think is best
and why. Then share your diet choice with your classmates. These are some
popular diets:
Vegetarian, or vegan The Zone
Dean Ornish, or low-fat Weight Watchers
Atkins, or low-carbohydrate Jenny Craig
South Beach Mediterranean
2. Reality TV shows have become very popular in the United States and in other
countries. Use the Internet to find out how to become a contestant on these
shows. Choose one program and write a report about how to apply to appear
on the show.
3. Americans have started to move back into cities from the suburbs to live in
communities where they can walk to work, shopping, entertainment, etc. At
the same time, there is a trend to urbanize the suburbs by building walking
communities that are more like small towns, with houses, schools, shopping,
and offices close together. Look on the Internet for more information
about these walkable, convenient urban and suburban communities. Some
examples are: Capital Hill in Seattle, WA; Short North in Columbus, OH;
and Ballston, VA (in the Washington, D.C. area). Check out the website
www.walkscore.com

Small-Group Projects
Some people say that Americans don’t have any culture. By that they probably
mean that the United States has not been a country long enough to have
developed its own art forms—music, dance, or theater—usually referred to as
the fine arts. Work in small groups to test that theory or hypothesis. If you are
living in the United States, find out about your local community. Are there
libraries? Museums? Theaters where concerts and plays are performed? Check the
entertainment section of your local newspaper (or a website) and see if any of the
following are scheduled:
1. Ballets or other dance performances
2. Art or other exhibitions
3. Symphony concerts
4. Other concerts or musical performances
5. Poetry readings
6. Operas
7. Plays

How Americans Spend Their Leisure Time 251

 Dancers from Morphoses perform in Christopher Wheeldon’s “Commedia” at New York City Center.

Make a list of these performances or exhibitions, and indicate the nationality of

both the artist who is performing the work and the artist who created it. Share
your findings with your classmates. Work in small groups and design a cultural-
adventure travel brochure. Decide all the details of the trip.
1. What kind of adventure is it?
2. Where will it take place?
3. What are the dates?
4. How much will it cost and what is included?
5. What experiences will the travelers have?

You may wish to include an itinerary and some pictures, if possible. When you have
finished, share your brochure with your classmates.

WRITE ABOUT IT
Choose one of the following topics. Then write a short composition about it.
1. Some would say that American homeowners have an obsession with having
a beautiful lawn. In the United States, lawns occupy more land than any
single crop, including wheat and corn, and in western cities as much as 60
percent of water is used for lawns. Do you think green spaces are important?
Write about the use of land for private lawns or public parks, and describe
differences between the United States and your country.
2. Write about the problem of protecting children from sex and violence in
television programs and movies, on the Internet, and in video games. Use a
graphic organizer to plan your essay.
3. Two of the fastest growing sports are NASCAR racing and golf. Write a report
about why you think they are so popular, or choose another sport to write
about.

252 ^ Chapter 10
 4. Many American children are very impressed with sports stars. Do you think
sports superstars have a responsibility to be positive role models for young
people? Write an essay explaining why or why not, and give examples.

EXPLORE ON YOUR OWN

Books to Read
H. G. Bissinger, Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, and a Dream—A successful
sportswriter, Bissinger spent a year in the Texas town of Odessa writing about their
high school football program.

Pat Conroy, My Losing Season—In this memoir, fiction-writer Conroy tells about
his personal experience as a high school basketball player at the Citadel, a military
college.

Michael Mandelbaum, The Meaning ofSports: Why Americans Watch Baseball,

Football, and Basketball and What They See When They Do—The author, a well-
respected foreign policy analyst, explores Americans' fascination with team sports
and how they satisfy deep human needs.

George Plimpton, Paper Lion—Plimpton recounts his story of being a 36-year-old

rookie playing for the Detroit Lions.

Cheryl Strayed, Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail—A woman's
life changes on a 1,100 mile hike alone on the trail from the Mojave Desert to
Washington state.

Movies to See
42—This film is based on the true story of Jackie Robinson, the first African
American to play in American major league baseball.

The Fighter—A docudrama explores the remarkable rise of a Massachusetts-born,

junior welter-weight champion boxer named “Irish” Micky Ward.

Moneyball—Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane assembles a successful

baseball team on a lean budget by employing computer-generated analysis to
choose new players.

Rudy—A boy who has always been told that he is too small to play college football
is determined to overcome the odds and fulfill his dream of playing for Notre
Dame.

The Social Network—This film tells the story of how Mark Zuckerberg and a friend
started Facebook when they were students at Harvard.

How Americans Spend Their Leisure Time 253