Question

    A single cigarette sold on a street corner may not cost a lot; however, the whole costs of smoking are huge.

First, consider the cost of human life. About 10 people die of a tobacco-related disease every minute. Most of these preventable deaths happen in low-income and middle-income countries. The World Bank says each of these countries has a total national income of less than $ 12,746.

The World Health Organization says tobacco kills 6 million people yearly -a number that is expected to rise to 8 million by 2030 unless immediate action is taken.

But smoking costs more than the life of a person. It can affect the health of the whole country. The World Health Organization says low-income countries depend heavily on taxes from cigarettes. They use the money, in part, to pay the costs of health care for tobacco-related diseases.

But the illegal trade in tobacco products is further testing the economies of low-income countries. WHO officials say the illegal trade earns about $ 31 billion every year.

Douglas Bettcher is the director of the W HO s Department for the Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases. He calls the illegal trade a monster with many heads. He says the trade enables young people to buy cigarettes at low prices, become addicted to tobacco and suffer from serious health problems. It also increases crime and reduces taxes.

The World Health Organization is strongly suggesting that the U. N. member states sign an agreement to end the illegal trade in tobacco products. Eight countries have agreed to the agreement. But the agreement of 32 other countries is still needed for it to become an international law.

If the agreement succeeds, governments could put people who trade illegal tobacco products in prison-another cost to countries budgets.

1.Where are people dying of a tobacco related disease mostly from?

A.Developed countries. B.Old countries.

C.Underdeveloped countries. D.New countries.

2.Which of the following about the whole costs of smoking is NOT mentioned in the passage?

A.Destroying the environment.

B.Being harmful to human life.

C.Affecting the whole country’s economy.

D.Causing the illegal trade.

3.What’s the main idea of Paragraph 6?

A.Some action has been taken by the WHO.

B.The illegal trade in tobacco products is harmful.

C.Young people who are addicted to smoking may commit a crime.

D.An agreement to end the illegal trade in tobacco products is being signed.

4.Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?

A.Smoking Costs More than You Think

B.Different Ways to Stop Smoking

C.The Illegal Trade in Tobacco Products

D.Immediate Action to Stop Smoking

Answer

1.C

2.A

3.B

4.A

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。吸烟的代价远比想象得严重，不仅损害个人的生命，还会影响整个国家的健康。世界卫生组织督促联合国成员国签署协议终止烟草产品的非法贸易。

1.

细节理解题。根据第二段中“Most of these preventable deaths happen in low-income and middle-income countries.”可知，吸烟造成的死亡主要发生在中低收入的国家，即不发达国家。故选C项。

2.

细节理解题。根据第二段第一句“First, consider the cost of human life.”可知，文章提到了吸烟对人类生命的危害；根据第五段“But the illegal trade in tobacco products is further testing the economies of low-income countries.”可知，文章提到了吸烟导致非法贸易及影响低收入国家的经济。文章并未提及吸烟破坏环境，故选A项。

3.

段落大意题。根据第六段内容尤其是最后两句“He says the trade enables young people to buy cigarettes at low prices, become addicted to tobacco and suffer from serious health problems. It also increases crime and reduces taxes.”可知，本段主要是说烟草产品的非法贸易是有害的。故选B项。

4.

主旨大意题。文章第一段点明主题“the whole costs of smoking are huge”，接下来具体讲述了吸烟的危害，即威胁人类生命、影响整个国家的健康、烟草产品的非法贸易的危害及世界卫生组织的呼吁，所以A项“吸烟的代价超出你想象”最适合作本文标题。故选A项。