Spain, Land of 10 P.M. Dinners, Asks if It’s Time to Reset Clock

As people in some countries are preparing for bed, the Spanish evening is usually beginning at 10, with dinner often being served and prime-time television shows starting, and not ending until after 1 a.m. Surveys show that nearly a quarter of Spain’s population is watching television between midnight and 1 a.m.

            Spain still operates on its own clock and rhythms. But now that it is trying to recover from a devastating economic crisis, a pro-efficiency movement contends that the country can become more productive, more in sync with the rest of Europe, if it adopts a more regular schedule.

            Yet what might sound logical to many non-Spaniards would represent a fundamental change to Spanish life. For decades, many Spaniards have taken a long midday siesta break for lunch and a nap. Under a new schedule, that would be truncated to an hour or less. Television programs would be scheduled an hour earlier. And the elastic Spanish working day would be replaced by something closer to a 9-to-5 timetable.

            Underpinning the proposed changes is a recommendation to change time itself by turning back the clocks an hour, which would move Spain out of the time zone that includes France, Germany and Italy. Instead, Spain would join its natural geographical slot with Portugal and Britain.

            “We want to see a more efficient culture,” said Ignacio Buqueras, the most outspoken advocate of changing the Spanish schedule. “Spain has to break the bad habits it has accumulated over the past 40 or 50 years.If Spain had a rational timetable, the country would be more productive”

            For the moment, Spain’s government is treating the campaign seriously. In September, a parliamentary commission recommended that the government turn back the clocks an hour and introduce a regular eight-hour workday. As yet, the government has not taken any action.

            A workday abbreviated by siestas is not necessarily rooted in reality. Instead, many urban Spaniards complain of a never-ending workday. If workers return to their desks at 4 p.m., they end up working well into the evening, especially if the boss takes a long break and then works late.

            Mr. Buqueras argues that changing the Spanish schedule would be a boon to working mothers, allow families more free time together and help Spain’s economic recovery.

Question 1 (2 points) Indicate whether the following statements are true or false and write down which part of the text justifies your answer.

a. Most Spaniards watch television after midnight.

b. Some people in Spain think that the country should change to a new tiemtable.

c. The more logical the timetable is, the more productive Spain will be.

d. The government is already dealing with the issue.

Question 2 (2 points) Answer the following questions in your own words.

a. What changes will the new schedule represent?

b. According to Mr.Buqueras, what benefits would this change bring to the country?

Question 3 (1.5 points) Find words or phrases in the text that correspond in meaning to the words and definitions given.

a. poll (par.1)                            b. argue (par.2)                                     c. timetable (par.3)

d. blunt, very sincere (par.5)       e. blessing (par.8)

Question 4 (1.5 points) Complete the following sentences without changing the meaning.

a. Nearly a quarter of Spain’s population is watching television between midnight and 1 a.m.

            Television...

b. Many urban Spaniards don't believe that siestas are rooted in reality.

            Siestas...

c. Employees end up working well into the evening when the boss takes a long break.

            If the boss...

Question 5 (3 points) Write a short essay (120-150 words) on the following topic:

Do you think the way other countries see Spanish people is correct? What do you think about stereotypes?