The World Health Organisation has recommended that electronic cigarettes should not be allowed in closed public spaces as they might harm the health of non-smokers.
Rob and Finn discuss the risks posed by this new device which many smokers are using in order to cut down on smoking? Listen to the programme.
Vocabulary
cough
sudden expulsion of air from the lungs, usually due to an irritation
secondary smoker
non-smoker who breathes in other people's cigarette smoke
ban
prohibition, no longer being allowed
nicotine
chemical in tobacco believed to cause addiction
long-term
for a long time in the future
quit smoking
give up smoking
damaging
harmful
overreaction
response to something which is more forceful than required
Transcript
Note: This is not a word for word transcript
Rob
Hello I'm Rob. Welcome to 6 Minute English. I'm joined today by Finn.
Finn
Hello.
Rob
Today we are going to talk about electronic cigarettes – also called e-cigarettes – and teach you words that will help you to discuss the subject or understand news about it.Do you smoke, Finn?
Finn
No. And sometimes the smoke from other people's cigarettes makes me cough (coughs a bit). Just thinking about it makes me want to cough (coughs again).
Rob
It's because you are a secondary smoker – in other words, you're someone who doesn't smoke but breathes in the smoke from someone else's cigarette. And this smoke is very harmful to your health. So, here is today's question, Finn.
Finn
OK, go ahead.
Rob
According to the World Health Organisation, there are more than 4,000 chemicals in cigarette smoke. How many of these are known to be harmful to our health? Is it at least:
a) 50
b) 150
c) 250
Finn
Mm … Let me think. (he guesses)?
Rob
You'll get the answer at the end of the programme. Well, electronic cigarettes are everywhere now. Some estimates say more than a million people are using e-cigarettes just in the UK. But these devices might not be very safe for secondary smokers …
Finn
Is that so? I thought they were okay because they produce vapour rather than the smoke full of harmful chemicals you get in ordinary cigarettes.
Rob
Well, the World Health Organisation is not convinced e-cigarettes are any safer to secondary smokers. It has recommended a ban on the use of electronic cigarettes indoors and their sale to people under 18 years old.
Finn
A ban? In other words, they don't want them to be permitted indoors anymore? I know that e-cigarettes work by heating liquid nicotine – this is the substance in tobacco which makes it addictive. It turns into vapour which is inhaled by the smoker. I thought because it was just vapour, it was okay for non-smokers!
Rob
It's vapour with some chemicals in it. And experts fear it could have similar effects to the smoke produced by ordinary cigarettes. Listen to what Professor John Ashton has to say. He's from the Faculty of Public Health here in the UK. Which words does he use to describe the use of e-cigarettes for an extended period of time?
INSERT
Professor John Ashton, from the Faculty of Public Health in the UK
There are scientists in America who've been studying second-hand effects of tobacco smoke who are raising these issues now about the e-cigarettes. And we really can't allow these things to get establishedbefore we know what the long-term effects are going to be.
Finn
He talks aboutlong-termeffects. He means that the constant use of e-cigarettes for an extended period of time might cause harm which we are not aware of yet.
Rob
You can't light up a cigarette in a pub or bar anymore. It was the effect of people's cigarette smoke on other staff that led to the ban on ordinary cigarettes in Britain. Private companies and the authorities are keen not to risk bringing back any kind of smoking to closed spaces in public places.
Finn
This is likely to annoymany smokers who have been moving to electronic cigarettes in an attempt to cut down on nicotine or even quit smoking.
Rob
Yes, many people want to quit smoking – stop smoking – at once. And they find it easier to do this if they can use e-cigarettes. In the last few decades smokers have been feeling persecuted.
Finn
Yes, there's a lot of pressure for them to quit the habit.
Rob
Listen to what this smoker who uses e-cigarettes has to say.He's in a pub in Bristol. Which word does he use to talk about the harm certain things do to children?
INSERT
Male customer, Bristol pub
We react at absolutely everything in this world. What we'll gonna have eventually though is 'no drinking beer' in pubs because it's damaging for children to watch it happening.
Finn
He uses the word 'damaging', meaning harmful. He complains that there's an overreaction to things like cigarettes and alcohol.
Rob
Yes. An 'overreaction' means responding to something in a way which is more forceful than required. He complained that one day the authorities might end up banning people from drinking alcohol in pubs. Pubs, as we know, are bars to which most customers go to drink alcohol.
Finn
He is using some irony here.
Rob
Yes. The right to smoke or not smoke generates passionate debates. Smoking is bad for your health, but some people argue that eating junk food is bad too but it's still available all over the place.
Finn
Cigarettes are addictive and it's very difficult for people just to give them up.
Rob
But here are some facts which might make people think again. I told you earlier in the programme that there are more than 4,000 chemicals in cigarette smoke. And I asked you how many of these are known to be harmful to health. The options were: at least 50, 150 or 250?
Finn
I said 250. Is it as many as that, Rob?
Rob
It is as many as that.
Finn
Wow!
Rob
Yes, at least 250. Acording to the World Health Organisation website, it says that more than 50 chemicals in tobacco smoke are known to cause cancer. Any amount of second hand tobaco smoke is thought to be unsafe, and second hand smoke causes more that 600,000 early deaths per year. Well, as we are nearly the end of the programme, let's just remember some of the words we used today. Finn?
Finn
We heard:
cough
secondary smoker
ban
nicotine
long-term
quit smoking
damaging
overreaction
Rob
Thanks Finn. Well that's it for this programme. Please join us soon again for 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English.
Finn
Bye.
Rob
Bye.
Topic 2 : In-Flight Fight Over Legroom
A passenger plane forced to land because of a mid-air fight in the cabin, two passengers battling in their seats over legroom and that tiny but precious amount of space for the hours ahead. ABC’s David Kerley shows us what caused the trouble.
It all started on a flight from Newark to Denver in economy plus, where you pay some more for extra room. The woman in 11B couldn’t recline because a man behind her in 12B put a $22-dollar piece of plastic on the seatback to keep her seat from reclining.
A source tells ABC news the man refused to remove the gadget so the woman stood up and threw a cup of water in his face. A face-off that prompted that landing in Chicago, where both passengers were removed from the aircraft, but not charged. The man was using these. They’re called the “Knee Defenders.”
On this flight we have enlisted Rick to help us show the frustration when somebody brings their seat back very quickly. That’s where these Knee Defenders come in. You just slide them onto the tray, and they sit right in there. And, when Rick tries to bring his seat back again, it won’t come back. The problem is the airlines don’t allow the use of these Knee Defenders.
“Knee Defenders aren’t about getting more space.” He should know; he invented the gadget. “The idea is to just let the person in front of you know that you’re back there.” This as your flight is more and more crowded, and there is less room. Look at the incredibly shrinking cabin.
Carriers are squeezing your leg room. A couple of decades ago, 34 inches in coach, down now to 32 or 30 inches. Some low-fare operators have even cut that to 28 inches, all to squeeze in another row. “This is all about profit. The problem is we as passengers suffer.” Already squeezed? But look at this concept seat, you’d be nearly standing up on your flight of the future. David Kerley, ABC News New York.
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※ charge : (~ 의 혐의로) 고발하다, 고소하다, 비난, 고발, 고소
ex. He was charged with dangerous driving after being clocked at 112 mph. 속도계에 시속 112 마일로 찍혀 위험운전 혐의로 고발되었다. (clock 주행속도를 측정하다) ( reckless driving, a reckless driver/ wild driving, a wild driver)
ex. charge a person with theft 남을 절도혐의로 고발 [고소] 하다.
* press/bring charges 고소 [고발] 하다 (=officially accuse someone of a crime)
ex. In the end we decided not to press charges (against him).
* drop the charges 고소 [고발] 를 취하하다 : ex. She was accused of shoplifting but the police later dropped the charges (against her).
* criminal charge : 형사고소 [고발]
* be charged with ~ : to be officially responsible for doing something(임무가 맡겨지다)
ex. The company has been charged with maintaining our computer systems. 그 회사는 우리 컴퓨터시스템 유지보수를 담당해오고 있다.
※ suffer(=experience)와 suffer from의 차이
a) suffer the loss of money 금전 손실을 겪다, 즉 손실을 보다. 이때 suffer는 타동사 (experience)
b) suffer from the money loss 금전 손실로 고생하다 이때 suffer는 자동사
a) suffer the injury = sustain the injury 부상을 입다
b) suffer from the injury 부상으로 고생하다
a) He suffered a wound. 부상을 입었다.
b) He suffered from a wound. 부상으로 고생했다.
passenger plane 여객기
* cargo plane 화물수송기
be forced to ~ 해야만 한다, ~ 하지 않을 수 없다
* force ~ to... ~에게 억지로 ... 하도록 시키다, 강요하다
ex. force him to sign a confession
ex. He was eventually forced to cough up details of the crime. (cough up 토해내다)
land 상륙하다, 상륙[착륙, 착수]시키다, <타격 등을> 가하다(deal), 땅에 부딪치다, (나비, 새 따위가) 앉다, ( 원하는 직장 등을) 차지[획득]하다 [메모 참고]
ex. The Turtle lands on a big rock and his back breaks into a thousand pieces
mid-air 공중
ex. The bird caught the insects in mid-air. 그 새는 공중에서 그 벌레를 잡았다.
cabin 오두막집, 통나무집, 선실, 객실
ex. The passengers and crew were in the cabin. 승객들과 승무원들은 선실에 있었다.
legroom (자동차.비행기.극장 등에서) 다리를 뻗을 수 있는 공간
tiny 작은, 조그마한
precious 귀중한, 값비싼;고귀한, 존경할 만한
ex. Time is very precious when studying for exams.
room 방, 실, [uncount]( 사람·물건 등이 차지하는 ) 장소, 공간, 여지
ex. There isn't much room in here. 이곳은 공간이 별로 없군.
recline (편안하게) 비스듬히 기대다[눕다], (의자 등받이가[를]) 뒤로 넘어가다[넘기다]
ex. She was reclining on a sofa. 그녀는 소파에 비스듬히 기대 앉아 있었다.
keep ~ from ... ~가 ... 하지 못하게 하다
ex. I hope I'm not keeping you from your work. 제가 당신 일을 방해하는 게 아니면 좋겠군요.
ex. The dog's barking keeps me from sleeping. 개 짓는 소리 때문에 내가 잠을 잘 수가 없다.
gadget (작고 유용한) 도구[장치]/ a small tool or piece of equipment that does something useful or impressive
ex. high-tech gadget 첨단 기기
face-off (비격식 특히 美) 대결
ex. a face-off between the presidential candidates. 대통령 선거 후보들 간의 대결
* face off 대결하다
prompt 즉석의, 신속한, 즉각적인, ~하도록 촉발하다, ~하도록 유발하다
ex. a behavior prompted by natural instinct : 자연적인 본능에 의해 촉발된 행동
ex. His curiosity prompted him to ask questions. 그는 호기심에 이끌려 질문을 했다
charge ( (~ 의 혐의로) 고발하다, 고소하다, 비난, 고발, 고소, 혐의 [메모 참고]
enlist 입대시키다, 입대하다, ~의 찬조[협력, 지지]를 요청하(여 얻)다
ex. enlist in the army 육군에 입대하다
ex. enlist the help of the public 대중의 도움을 요청하여 얻다
frustration 좌절, 좌절감, 불만, 답답함, 답답하게 하는 것
* frustrate : 좌절시키다, < 계략 등을 > 실패시키다 (baffle)
* frustrating : 실망시키는, 좌절시키는, 답답하게 하는
sit (…에) 위치하다, 놓여 있다/ to be in a particular place
ex. The house sits on top of a hill overlooking the countryside.
ex. The cans have been sitting on the shelf for months.
be (all) about (또는 be about) ~ used for saying what the most basic or important aspect of a particular job, activity, or relationship is
ex. Loving and sharing - that's what marriage is (all) about.
ex. Good management is all about motivating your staff.
ex. This is what life is all about, isn't it? 이런 게 다 인생 아니겠어요?
ex. It's all about money these days. 요즘에는 돈이 최고다.
crowded 붐비는, 혼잡한
incredible 믿어지지 않는, 놀라운, (믿기 어려울 만큼) 훌륭한, 대단한, 굉장한
shrink 움츠러들다, 오그라들다, 줄어들다, 줄어들게하다
carrier 항공 회사, 항공 모함 (aircraft carrier), 보균자, (병원체의) 매개체
squeeze 밀어[쑤셔]넣다 (into), ~ 을 짜다 [압착하다]
coach (스포츠)코치, 마차, (여객기의) 보통석, 이코노미 클래스
low-fare 저가의
ex. low-fare carriers 저가 항공사
row 열, 줄
ex. in the front row 앞줄에