英语课程计划-World No Tobacco Day

World No Tobacco Day is observed around the world on May 31 every year. It was started by the World Health Organization in 1987. It aims to highlight¹ the dangers of smoking around the world. Another aim is to encourage people to stop smoking and thus reduce the negative health effects of smoking. Around 5.4 million people a year die from smoking-related health problems. On World No Tobacco Day, the WHO presents special awards to organizations or people who have made great efforts to get people, especially children, to stop smoking. In 2008 the WHO called for a total ban on tobacco advertising². It said advertising was one of the biggest factors that made people take up smoking.

Tobacco is a dangerous drug. It’s amazing how governments allow people to use tobacco. One reason is governments get a lot of money from taxes on cigarettes. Another reason is tobacco companies have a lot of influence on politicians. Tobacco-related health problems put a huge amount of pressure on a country’s healthcare system. Millions of working hours are lost every day because people take smoking breaks. The saddest thing is that children lose parents because of the damage tobacco did to their bodies. Tobacco contains nicotine³ and other poisonous chemicals. These cause many diseases⁵, like heart problems and cancer. Smoking causes bad breath, disease⁴, loss of energy, and it’s expensive. It’s time for the world to quit smoking.

1 highlight   

n.加亮区；v.加亮，强调；[计算机]醒目

参考例句：

• Her performance was the highlight of the show.她的表演是那场演出中最精彩的部分。
• The highlight of this term is the school trip to Austria.这学期最重要的活动就是去奥地利的校外旅行。

2 advertising   

n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的

参考例句：

• Can you give me any advice on getting into advertising? 你能指点我如何涉足广告业吗?
• The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people. 这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。

3 nicotine   

n.(化)尼古丁，烟碱

参考例句：

• Many smokers who are chemically addicted to nicotine cannot cut down easily.许多有尼古丁瘾的抽烟人不容易把烟戒掉。
• Many smokers who are chemically addicted to nicotine cannot cut down easily.许多有尼古丁瘾的抽烟人不容易把烟戒掉。

4 disease   

n.疾病，弊端

参考例句：

• The doctors are trying to stamp out the disease.医生正在尽力消灭这种疾病。
• He fought against the disease for a long time.他同疾病做了长时间的斗争。

5 diseases   

n.疾病( disease的名词复数 )；弊端；恶疾；痼疾

参考例句：

• Smoking is a causative factor in several major diseases. 抽烟是引起几种严重疾病的病因。
• The illness frequently coexists with other chronic diseases. 这种病往往与其他慢性病同时存在。