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UNIT 9 SMOKING

Section 1: Reading Comprehension

Judy started smoking when she was in college. Smoking helped her to keep going while
studying. She enjoyed smoking with friends between classes. When she was worried about grades
or relationship, smoking helped her to relax. By the time she was a senior, if she was not smoking a
cigarette, she was very much aware of it.

A couple of years after graduation, she was hiking with some friends and realized she was having
a hard time keeping up. She was the only smoker in the group and found herself out of breath and
more tired than the others.

Her mother smoked more than two packs a day and had died of lung cancer at the age of 52.
Judy still remembers her mom’s continual cough and complaints about chest pain. Her mother had
finally gone to the doctor when she started coughing up blood. The doctor had told her she had
lung cancer. She died several months later.

After the hike, Judy started thinking about how she might quit smoking. A good friend of hers,
Sharon, who was pregnant also wanted to stop. Sharon had read that pregnant women who smoke
have a higher number of miscarriages or premature babies than nonsmokers.

Judy decided she would use the “cold turkey” method to quit. Sharon chose to quit gradually.
They circled Judy’s birthday as quitting day. They told their friends and family they were quitting. A
week before quitting day they did two things: they switched to a brand of cigarettes they didn’t like
and they started an exercise program. They would meet in the evenings and walk for a half hour.
Next Judy hid all her cigarettes, matches and ashtrays. They made sure they had plenty of carrot
sticks and chewing gum. When the quitting day arrived, Judy never smoked another cigarette.
Sharon smoked one less cigarette each day.

Two months later they have both completely quit. During this time they have talked on the
telephone a lot. Often one can hear the other munching on a carrot. They still meet in the evenings
for their half hour walk.

Judy said quitting smoking was the best birthday present she’d received. Smoking does not
only cause lung cancer but is linked to heart disease, stroke, and other cancers. Sharon said quitting
smoking was a good present to give to her baby.

Questions and Answers
Use the story on Smoking to answer the following questions. Answer in complete sentences
1. Why did Judy start smoking?
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2. Why did Judy decide to quit smoking?

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3. What did Judy’s mother die from?

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4. Why is smoking dangerous for an expectant mother?
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