2020下半年大学英语四级阅读模拟题：吸烟

2020

下半年大学英语四级阅读模拟题：吸烟

2020

下半年大学英语四级阅读模拟题：吸烟

World's Nonsmokers Take up Fight for Cleaner Air

In country after country, talk of nonsmokers' rights is

in the air. This fresh voice is heard from Australia to

Sweden. Its force is freeing clean air for nonsmokers

—

and

tightening the situation for smokers.

In west Germany, for instance, taxi drivers

—

known for

their independence

—

post signs saying

Raucher

smoking. . . Bans in Poland prevent smoking in factories,

offices, snack bars, and other public places. . . And

Venezuelans can be fined $$ 230 to $$ 1,000 for smoking in

supermarkets, buses, and numerous other places. Many

countries also are moving in step to limit tobacco promotion

(despite a 7 percent jump in world tobacco production last

year) and eliminate the

美

化

) of smoking as a habit.. .

United Nations World Health Organization.

While a majority of countries have taken little or no

action yet, some 30 nations have introduced legislative steps

to control smoking abuse. Many laws have been introduced in

other countries to help clear the air for nonsmokers, or to

cut cigarette consumption.

In many developing nations, however, cigarette smoking is

seen as a sign of economic progress

—

and is even encouraged.

consumption of cigarettes has become stabilized, there are

some indications that it is still rising at a steady pace in

Latin America,

Pan American Health Organization.

Despite progress in segregating (

隔离

) nonsmokers and

smokers, most countries see little change in the number of

smokers. In fact, there is a jump in the number of girls and

young women starting to smoke.

As more tobacco companies go international, new markets

are sought to gain new smokers in developing countries. For

example, great efforts are made by the American tobacco

industry to sell cigarettes in the Middle East and North

Africa

—

where U. S. tobacco exports increased by more than 27

percent last year, according the U. S. Foreign Agriculture

Service. So far, any cooperation between tobacco interests

and governments' campaigns against smoking has been in the

area of tobacco advertising.

Restrictions on cigarette ads, plus health warnings on

packages and bans on public smoking in certain places, are

the most popular tools used by nations in support of

nonsmokers or in curbing (

限制

) smoking.

But world attention also is focusing on other steps which

will

：

—

make the smoker increasingly self-conscious and

uncomfortable about his habit by publicizing public awareness

of the decline of social acceptability of smoking.

(This method is receiving strong support in the U. S. and

other countries. )

—

prevent pro-smoking scenes on television and films.

—

remove cigarette vending machines.

—

provide support for those who want to kick the habit of

smoking.

—

make it illegal to sell or hand over tobacco products

to minors and prohibit smoking in meeting places for young

people.

—

boost cigarette prices with higher tobacco taxes

—

and

use the money for antismoking campaigns.

At a June UN conference on smoking, a goal set by Sir

George E. Godber, chairman of the expert committee on smoking

and health for the World Health Organization, stated

：

may not have eliminated cigarette smoking completely by the

end of this century, but we ought to have reached a position

where relatively few addicts still use cigarettes, but only

in private at most in the company of consenting adults.

NATIONS ATTEMPT SOLUTIONS

Here are brief sketches of major or unique attempts

around the world to insure nonsmokers' right to smoke-free

air and to help smokers quit.

SWEDEN

An ambitious, concerted plan to raise a nation of

nonsmokers is being implemented by the Swedish National Board

of Health and Welfare.

Swedish children born after 1975 will grow up in

environments that will be nonsmoking and antismoking as much

as possible. General cigarette consumption will cut from

1,700 cigarettes a year per person to 1920 level of under 300

cigarettes a year, according to the 25-year plan.