A
Why do people smoke? One reason is that people become addicted (有瘾) to cigarettes. The addictive substance (物质) in cigarettes is nicotine. When people smoke, the nicotine goes right into the blood stream and makes people feel relaxed. A smoker's body gets used to the nicotine and if he stops smoking, he feels nervous. Many smokers try to stop smoking, but because of the addiction to nicotine they feel so uncomfortable that they often find it too difficult to do so. Another reason is that people simply enjoy smoking. Having a cigarette for many people means taking a break. For .some people smoking becomes part of certain social rituals (礼节), for example, the cigarette after dinner. Many people enjoy smoking because it gives you .something to do with your hands. Reaching for a cigarette, lighting it, flicking (轻弹) the ashes are especially comfortable in situation where a person feels nervous.
Many people also like the taste of tar(焦油) in cigarettes. However, it is the tar that causes cancer (癌). While governments and health experts (专家) have tried to get people to give up smoking completely, cigarette manufacturers (制造商) have tried to keep selling them by producing cigarettes with less tar. Many people in Western countries have welcomed these cigarettes since they find it hard to stop smoking but want to reduce the danger to their health.
1. Many people become addicted to cigarettes because ______.
A. they like to see smoke come out of their mouths and noses
B. they need to get .some tar from cigarettes
C. nicotine goes into the blood stream
D. smoking can cause cancer
2. The substance in cigarettes which can get people addicted to smoking is_______.
A. ashes B. nicotine C. smoke D. tar
3. Health experts are trying to persuade people to ______.
A. smoke less a day B. buy cigarettes with less tar
C. smoke only after dinner D. stop smoking entirely
4. What substance in cigarettes causes cancer?
A. Tar. B. The wrapping paper.
C. Nicotine. D. The article doesn't tell us.
5. People know that smoking is harmful to their health, but many people still smoke because ______.
A. they are not afraid of death
B. they find it hard to stop smoking
C. smoking can make them sick
D. they want to reduce the danger to their health
B
Each year, a half-million people die from smoking in China which in 1990 overtook the United States in the number of such deaths. And by the year 2025, 2 million Chinese will die each year from smoking and related diseases. Professor Weng cited (引用) a report from the World Health Organization (WHO, 世界卫生组织).
With Westerners increasingly dropping the habit, the smoking population in China is on a constant increase. "In 1964 the smoking population in America was 54 percent, which dropped to 26 percent by the year 1996. But China's smoking population is at least 30 times its number in the 1950s." Weng said.
Smoking has become a popular game, especially among young people and women.
Weng pointed out that women are more and more the targets of tobacco marketing campaigns. "As China witnesses (目睹) rapid change in women's roles, smoking among women is increasing, with most new smokers being educated women."
Weng said that in countries such as the United States, Britain － where female smoking was popular long ago － lung cancer caused by smoking has surpassed breast cancer (乳腺癌) , becoming the largest cancer-killer of women.
"At present only some 8 percent of Chinese women smoke, which has kept the total smoking population below 40 percent. If women in China insist on demanding the same rights as men, the figure will at least double the present one." Weng said.
6. In the first paragraph, "overtook" means "______" .
A. held B. caught up with C. added to D. overlooked
7. According to the report from the World Health Organization, by the year 2025, the death caused by smoking in China will be ______ times the present number.
A. 2 B. 3 C. 4 D. 5
8. Why do more Americans give up smoking? Because they ______.
A. are too poor B. have made laws
C. have realized its harm D. both B and C
9. Among women in China, most new smokers ______.
A. live in mountain villages
B. have no children to feed
C. have good schooling
D. work too hard
10. Professor Weng thought that ______.
A. women should demand the right of smoking
B. it would be more dangerous for women to smoke
C. women in China should learn from the American women
D. no men cared about women's rights
Keys:1--5C B D A B 6－10BCCCB