Pre-reading questions:
- Any idea about second-hand smoke?
- What are the usual illness associated with smoking that you know?
According to a US study, non-smokers that are always exposed to second-hand smoke are more prone to suffer stroke. Research showed that nearly 50 percent of non-smoker stroke patients are exposed to second-hand smoke at home. Second-hand smoke is dangerous to all but stroke patients should try more to avoid it, said Dr. Lin of Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.
Researchers performed a blood test to know the volume of smoke people are exposed to. Certain factors considered for this test are race, sex, education and income level. Results showed that black men with high alcohol intake are the most exposed to second-hand smoke at home. Nevertheless, all levels of second-hand smoke exposure is dangerous to us. We must avoid smoking areas and smokers to decrease the chance of breathing second-hand smoke.
Vocabulary:
volume – an amount of something
factor – something that helps produce or influence a result
intake – the act of taking something (such as air) into your body
exposure – the fact or condition of being affected by something or experiencing something
decrease – to become smaller in size, amount, number, etc.
Comprehension Questions:
- What is a second-hand smoke?
- According to a US study, who are more prone to suffer stroke?
- How many percent of non-smokers are exposed to second-hand smoke?
- Are all levels of second-hand smoke is dangerous to us?
Express Your Opinion:
- According to the article, those who don’t smoke are more likely to have illness than the smokers themselves. Do you agree on this? Why or why not?
- Imagine that you are a frequent smoker and you have a family member who suffers from a heart or lung disease. Will you stop smoking for them? If not, how would you continue your hobby without harming them? Expound your answer.
- Who are to blame for this illness: the smoker, the non-smoker, the cigarette manufacturer or the government?