At last one thing will unite Europe and America in the years to come: the common war against smokers. Smoking has already been banned in public places in around 100 American cities, including New York and Boston. Turkish tea houses, Greek taxis, Spanish buses and Italian restaurants have done the same. Ireland will be next when a smoking ban takes effect in all public places on January 1st 2004. Opponents (particularly bar and restaurant owners) say this will lead to layoffs and destroy these places role in social and cultural life.
Though the European Commission cannot dictate tobacco policy to member states, officials reckon they have a good chance of pushing through a European Union wide ban on lighting up in restaurants and cafés by describing it as a health and safety measure to protect workers from passive smoking. This could take a while, and will meet noisy protests. In the meantime, the commission is banning smoking in its headquarters in Brussels and Luxembourg. It has also declared that, from 2004, health warning labels must cover 30% of the front and 40% of the back of cigarette packets. What little is left of those nice illustrations may soon be replaced by pictures of cancerous lungs or other diseased organs!
Europe hasn’t seen such anti-tobacco hysteria since the 17th century when Pope Urban VIII issued a law prohibiting smoking and James I fulminated against “a custom loathsome to the eye, hateful to the nose, harmful to the brain, dangerous to the lungs”.
American and European smokers can, as they huddle in dark doorways and sad, cold alleys outside restaurants and bars, at least console themselves with the thought that things are even worse in one tiny pocket of Asia. The Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan wants to become the first nation to outlaw smoking completely. The sale and smoking of tobacco were banned in all but two provinces in 2003. Now the king has decreed that the entire country will be tobacco-free starting from 2004.
I- Comprehension: (15 points)
A- Are these statements true or false? Justify: (4 points)
1- Both America and Europe are determined to prohibit smoking.
2- Nobody is allowed to smoke in Brussels and Luxembourg.
3- This is the first war on smoking since the beginning of history.
4- In 2003, nobody could sell or smoke cigarettes in the kingdom of Bhutan.
B- Pick out from the text the expressions which show that: (3 points)
1- Banning cigarettes from public places in Europe will take a long time.
2- Cigarette smell is unpleasant.
3- Nobody will smoke in Bhutan in the future.
C-Answer the following questions: (3 points)
1- How do bar and restaurant owners react to prohibiting smoking?
2- What reasons will officials in Europe give to ban smoking in public places?
3- Why do American and European smokers look for doorways and alleys outside?
D- What do the underlined words refer to? (3 points)
1- the same (paragraph 1)
2- this (paragraph 1)
3- This (paragraph 2)
E- Pick out from the text words or expressions which mean approximately the same as: (2 points)
1- the fact of being dismissed from a job.
2- prohibit.
3- smoking.
4- crowd together in a small space.
II- Language: (15 points)
A- Put the verbs between brackets in the correct tense: (1.5 points)
1- I’ll never forget (tell) my first lie. It (be) about 20 years ago
2- Yesterday when I (ring) the bell there (be) no answer. The neighbour (inform) me that they (drive) away about half an hour ago.
B- Join the pairs of the sentences with the linking words: (3 points)
1) Many people still use plastic bags. They are dangerous for the environment. (though)
2) Some skilled workers emigrate. They aren’t satisfied with low salaries in their home countries. (for that reason)
3) Some women beggars prefer wearing veils. They don't want to be recognized. (in order not)
C- Choose the correct answer: (2 points)
1. Your eyes are red and swollen this morning. You…………..have cried all night.
(can’t-ought to- must-should)
2. Your brother………..have stolen the money from your purse. He was at work at the time.
(mustn’t- needn’t- shouldn’t- can’t)
3. I carried my umbrella around all day but it didn’t rain once. I………………have taken it with me.
(needn’t- shouldn’t- mustn’t- didn’t need to)
4. It’s all my fault, I admit. I………………have checked the doors before going to bed.
(must- can- should- may)
D- Rewrite the following sentences beginning with the words given: (4 points)
1- I didn’t apologize to my neighbour for my rudeness. That’s something I really regret.
I …………………………………………………………………………………
2- I’m positive it was Susan who made the announcement on the microphone. I recognize her voice.
It …………………………………………………………………..........................
3- I’m certain the scooter rider wasn’t wearing his helmet at the time of the accident.
The scooter rider…………………………………………………………………
4- It wasn't necessary for you to wait all that long.
You…………………………………………………………………………………
5- It’s likely (=probably) that the Chernobyl nuclear tragedy was caused by human negligence.
The Chernobyl nuclear tragedy ……………………………………………………
E- Match each of the sentences in box A with the corresponding sentences in box B: (1.5 points)
Box A | Box B |
1- Fish in that restaurant is not good | a- I don’t get your idea. Can you be more specific? |
2- Do you have anything to declare before leaving? | b- How do you know? Have you ever eaten there? |
3- I advise you not to use plastic bags. They are harmful to the environment. | c- I’m sorry but I don’t really understand what you mean. |
F- Put the words between brackets in the correct form: (3 points)
1- Chestnut honey provides quick and (effect)…………………….. relief.
2- It was really (honest)……………………… of you to take that money without asking.
3- The teacher’s comments are designed to help improve your (know)…………………..and (understand)………………………………………..
III- Writing: (10 points)
“Smoking causes a lot of diseases, yet young and old people still stick to this bad habit”.
Write an article to “Health” magazine to give arguments for banning smoking altogether.
Task to do:
In a different double sheet write about yourself: your name- age- level- languages you speak- your family (parents’ jobs)… - your hobbies- favourite subject and sport- what do you prefer to do in your free time? Etc…