Topic: Smoking
Despite health warnings, a large number of people continue to smoke all over the world.
Why should we be concerned about this?
What solutions would you suggest?
Give reason for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write at least 250 words.
Model Answer 01
Smoking is an expensive habit which pollutes the environment and carries serious health risk, yet a third of the men in the world smoke. It is also a sad fact that one in five teenagers take up the habit when they are as young as 11. Of course, there is one interest group, the tobacco industry, which is more than happy with this situation, since its profits depend on our addiction to cigarettes.
These statistics are particularly depressing because the link between smoking and cancer, heart disease and other serious illnesses has been known for many years. We must also remember that apart from harming the individual, smoking represents a huge cost to society. The money we spend on treating smoking-related disease could be used for much better purposes, such as helping to feed the world’s poor or paying for medical research.
So why, despite all the evidence, do people still smoke? The obvious answer is that cigarettes are highly addictive, so that it can be extremely difficult to give up. Another answer is the power of peer pressure, especially amongst young people. In my view, the most important thing is to discourage people from starting to smoke, and we could do this be increasing the tax on tobacco and banning cigarette advertising. I also feel that people who want to quit should be given as much advice and support as possible.
In conclusion, I believe that we should do everything we can to reduce the number of smokers in society. However, it is not enough to provide information about health risks, we also need to use a variety of strategies to tackle the problem.
(275 words)
Model Answer 02
Nowadays, many people become smoke addicts. The reasons for smoking vary from being a “fashionable” habit to conforming to your friends. Sometimes, parents set a bad example to their own children and are unable to quit smoking themselves. But governments and non-governmental organisations should unite powers and help addicts smoke less.
Smoking increases the risk of cancer, damages the foetus of pregnant women, makes teeth become yellow and rises the risk of impotence among men. What is more, smoking is extremely dangerous and unhealthy for surrounding people who inevitably breathe the cigarette smoke. Children and teenagers are often curious. They witness their own parents or teachers smoke and want to try it for themselves. The image of a woman smoking a cigarette in movies which is represented as being attractive is stuck in many girls’ minds. Thus, adolescents expose themselves to all the risks smoking brings.
Increasing prices of cigarettes and cigars is the first step for a healthier generation. Less people will be able to afford keeping their bad habit. Moreover, governments should ban smoking in public places. Tighter control should be forced on tobacco retailers. It is not surprising that cigarettes are being sold to children without any scruples. Retailers chase higher profits and are ignorant about the age of their customers. I think, pregnant women should also be banned from buying cigarettes since their children suffer from the devastating effects of tobacco smoke and often become addicts when they grow up in the future. Smoking does not has to necessarily be made illegal as many people who are already addicted would be at a disadvantage, but smoking should be turned into a luxurious choice for those who have the money and lungs to afford it.
In conclusion, I strongly support the idea of tighter control over society which would lead to a drop into the number of avid smokers. Everyone should have the freedom to smoke as long as they do not harm those around them, especially their own children.
(360 words)
