Read the following situations and indicate your reaction by circling 1 if you agree strongly, 2 if you agree somewhat. Then write your opinion about these statements. Be sure to include one or two reasons to explain your opinion.
a. 1 2 3 4 5 Smokers should not be allowed to smoke in public places.
b. 1 2 3 4 5 Smoking is one of life's pleasures.
c. 1 2 3 4 5 Smoking relieves stress
d. 1 2 3 4 5 Smoking should be banned on all flights regardless of the length of the length of the fight. (Remember that some flights last more than 10 hours)
e. 1 2 3 4 5 Smoking is in the same category as drinking alcohol.
f. 1 2 3 4 5 People have the right to smoke or not smoke. It is an individual liberty.
g. 1 2 3 4 5 The policy of some companies of not hiring someone if's/he is a smoker is acceptable.
h. 1 2 3 4 5 Smoking is hazardous
i. 1 2 3 4 5 Tobacco companies should be held financially responsible for lung cancer deaths.
j. 1 2 3 4 5 Cigarette taxes are unfair because they are not paid equally be everyone.
Exercise 2.2
Afred Deskiewics, Jr., age 51, of Kirkland, Washington, was a smoker. He decided it was time to quit smoking in 1971. He soon found out, however, that trying to quit smoking is easier said than done.
Mr. Deskiewics did succeed in quitting smoking years later. However , he had to go to a doctor, wear nicotine patches, and join a health club. The cost of all of this totaled $ 153.54.
In 1993. Mr. Deskiewitz sued Philip Morris a tobacco company and the maker of Marlboro cigarettes, for this amount. Mr. Deskiewics contended that Philip Morris had not included labels on its cigarettes which warned that smoking was addictive and could require treatment to quit.
A spokesperson for Philip Morris Company replied that about 42 millions Americans have quits smoking without treatment and 95 percent of them did so without help.
Exercise 2.3
If you were the judge in this case would you rule in favor of Mr. Deskiewics or Philip Morris? ____________ Write two or three reasons for your decisions.
Exercise 2.4
Work in small groups. Discuss your decision and your reasons. When you finish, read the Court's decision on page 173.
Exercise 2.5
Work in small groups of three or four. Choose one of the three sets (A, B, or C) of questions below. As a group mix up the questions and number them from 1 to 4. Then discuss your answers.
Set A
_________ Do you smoke? If yes, why? If no, why not?
_________ Some countries do not allow smoking at all in restaurants. Is this a good policy? Is it fair? Why or why not?
_________ Some insurance companies charge smokers higher rates than nonsmokers. Is fair? Why or why not?
_________ If you are a smoker, has someone ever asked you not to smoke? What was your reaction? (If you are a nonsmoker have you ever asked someone not to smoke? Describe the situation).
Set B
_________ Why do people start smoking? (First, the nonsmokers in the group should gave their ideas. Then the smokers should give their answers)
_________ Is there a real relationship between smoking and a person's health?
_________ What do you know about second-hand smoke? What is your reaction to this?
_________ If you are a smoker, has someone ever asked you not to smoke? Describe the situation. (If your are a nonsmokers have your ever asked someone not to smoke? How did you feel doing this? How did the smokers react?)
Set C.
_________ Cigarette packages now bear warnings about the potential dangers of smoking. What are some of these warnings? Is this warning system appropriate? Why or why not?
_________ What is the biggest reason why a smoker should quit? (If you don't there think there is any reason, then rebut the answers that the other members of your group give to this question.)
_________ Some insurance companies charge smokers that the rates than nonsmokers this fair? Why or why not?
_________ Name places where it is still OK to smoke. Why do you think these places still allow smoking when so many public have limited or banned it completely.
Exercise 2.6
Smokers should do A and nonsmokers should do B. Write your answer on the line.
A 1. There is a lot of pressure in society today on smokers to quit. What do you wish society would consider or keep in mind before it condemns smokers?
2. Have you ever tried or thought about trying to quit smoking. Did you succeed? Did other people help you? How?
B. 1. There is a lot of pressure in society today on smokers to quit. What do you think nonsmokers should consider before they condemn smokers?
2. Why do you think smoker would find quitting difficult? What are some things that you as a non-smoker can do to help a smoker during the difficult time of trying to quit?
1.
2.
Exercise 2.7
Now work in shall groups to discuss the topic of quitting smoking. You may use your answer to exercise 2.6 as a springboard.
Exercise 2.8
Read this court case involving smoking two divorced parents and their child.
Susan Tanner and Steven Masone divorced seven years ago. The wife, Susan, got custody of their daughter. Elysa. Elysa suffer from asthma a severe breathing condition. Because Steven was worried that Susan's chain smoking was aggravating Elysa asthma five years ago, he got a court order that barred Susan from smoking in Eysa's presence. However Susan did not stop smoking around Elysa. After Elysa had a asthma attack one month. A doctor said that Elysa would end up in emergency room if the smoking did not stop. Steven went back to court.
Exercise 2.9
If you were the judge what would you do in this case? Give at least two or three reasons for your answer.
Exercise 2.10
Work in pairs or small groups. Compare and discuss your answer to exercise 2.9. Try to agree on one answer (although your decisions may vary of course). When you have finished, read the judge decision on page 173.
Exercise 2.11
Read each statement and when write your first, immediate reaction. Do not write more than 25 words statement.
a. Parents exposing their children to secondhand smoke is a form a child abuse
b. A January 1993 study by the Environmental Protection Agency reported that 3,000 Americans die of lung cancer from secondhand smoke.
c. Bill Wordham of the Tobacco Institute trade group said this: We have to ask ourselves where this (the judge's decision from the case in exercise 2.9) would stop. Is a parent who habitually takes a child to McDonalds or otherwise feeds that child unhealthy food any less deserving of custody? What about a parent who allows his child to watch long hours of television?
d. John Banzhaf III of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) said this: Nobody is telling parents they can't smoke. Were simple saying they can't smoke around their children. This is different from protecting children from lead-based paint or other risks in the home.
Exercise 2.12
Now work is pairs or small to compare and discuss your reactions to the statements in exercise 2.11. For which of the four statements did you and your partners have the widest variations in responses?
Language Review
Use the vocabulary to complete the sentences. Make grammatical changes when necessary:
potential appropriate condemn policy cover
endanger temporary custody suffer from severe
aggravate bar end up habitually risk
expose hazardous addictive sore patch
Due to the ___________ weather around the airport flights were delayed for 45 minutes.
It's not good to _____________ your skin to the sun every day.
At first, he only played a few video games, but then the games became _________ and he couldn't stop playing them.
Some people disagree with the military's __________ of keeping homosexuals out of the military
In the past women almost got ________ of children in a divorce settlement, nowadays men often prevail.
Jan ____________ the doctor who mistakenly removed her left kidney instead of her right one.
Do you think the teachers action concerning the students who cheated on the test was ___________?
Our new insurance policy _____________ hospitals stays but not dental work.
Instead of making things better, I think this medicine has actually ________ my condition.
We were supposed to go bowling but we ___________ at the movies in stead.