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Smoking ban lights up love life

The days when smoking was cool are supposed to be long gone and smokers are supposed to be out of fashion. That's the theory. In fact, in Ireland, where a complete ban on smoking in bars, pubs and restaurants has been in place for over a year, having a quick drag has replaced speed dating as the best way to spice up your love life.

The cosy courtyard of the Temple Bar pub in Dublin looks like any other outdoor venue on a sunny evening. People stand around drinking, gossiping and moaning about work. But look closer and you'll find a different situation. Everyone is smoking and, in between drags, they are practising their best, light-hearted chat-up lines as well.

Welcome to the practice of smirting (smoking and flirting), a craze which has swept Ireland. Since the introduction of the ban in 2004, pubs and bars opened outside areas for smokers to gather and with them came a more relaxed attitude to meeting people. Now people find themselves striking up conversations over a quick fag.

On one level, it is unsurprising that those hanging out in smoking areas seem to be having more fun. Smoking is an intrinsically social habit. You meet a wider mix of people and the opportunities to start a conversation are many and easy. Nor is it simply hardened smokers who hang out outside, there are also people who weren't really smokers at all but they'd go outside for a cigarette.

This increase in social smoking is one of the more worrying aspects of smirting. Anti-smoking campaigners believed that the ban would improve health and stop people smoking. But many young Dubliners admit that they have increased their consumption of cigarettes because of the social benefits.

Question 1 Decide whether the following statements are true or false. Give evidence from the text.

a) Smirting is very popular in Ireland.
b) Nowadays, people who smoke have more chances to chat with new people.
c) Only regular smokers are found in these open spaces.
d) Young Irish smoke more now than they used to do.

Question 2 Answer the following questions in your own words.

a) Why is it said that smoking is a social habit?
b) What is the most negative aspect of smirting?

Question 3 Find words in the text that are synonyms of the words below.

a) prohibition (par.1)
b) complain (par.2)
c) start (par.3)

Question 4 Rewrite the following sentences without changing the meaning.

a) Anti-smoking campaigners supposed that the ban would improve people’s health.
The ban…
b) Since the introduction of the ban in 2004, pubs and bars have opened outside areas for smokers.
If the ban…
c) People stand around drinking, gossiping and moaning about work. However, look closer and the situation is different.
Although…

Question 5. Write a short essay (120-150 words) on the following topic:
What do you think of the smoking ban introduced in Spain?

Smoking ban lights up love life

The days when smoking was cool are supposed to be long gone and smokers are supposed to be out of fashion. That's the theory. In fact, in Ireland, where a complete ban on smoking in bars, pubs and restaurants has been in place for over a year, having a quick drag has replaced speed dating as the best way to spice up your love life.

The cosy courtyard of the Temple Bar pub in Dublin looks like any other outdoor venue on a sunny evening. People stand around drinking, gossiping and moaning about work. But look closer and you'll find a different situation. Everyone is smoking and, in between drags, they are practising their best, light-hearted chat-up lines as well.

Welcome to the practice of smirting (smoking and flirting), a craze which has swept Ireland. Since the introduction of the ban in 2004, pubs and bars opened outside areas for smokers to gather and with them came a more relaxed attitude to meeting people. Now people find themselves striking up conversations over a quick fag.

On one level, it is unsurprising that those hanging out in smoking areas seem to be having more fun. Smoking is an intrinsically social habit. You meet a wider mix of people and the opportunities to start a conversation are many and easy. Nor is it simply hardened smokers who hang out outside, there are also people who weren't really smokers at all but they'd go outside for a cigarette.

This increase in social smoking is one of the more worrying aspects of smirting. Anti-smoking campaigners believed that the ban would improve health and stop people smoking. But many young Dubliners admit that they have increased their consumption of cigarettes because of the social benefits.

Question 1 Decide whether the following statements are true or false. Give evidence from the text.

a) Smirting is very popular in Ireland.
b) Nowadays, people who smoke have more chances to chat with new people.
c) Only regular smokers are found in these open spaces.
d) Young Irish smoke more now than they used to do.

Question 2 Answer the following questions in your own words.

a) Why is it said that smoking is a social habit?
b) What is the most negative aspect of smirting?

Question 3 Find words in the text that are synonyms of the words below.

a) prohibition (par.1)
b) complain (par.2)
c) start (par.3)

Question 4 Rewrite the following sentences without changing the meaning.

a) Anti-smoking campaigners supposed that the ban would improve people’s health.
The ban…
b) Since the introduction of the ban in 2004, pubs and bars have opened outside areas for smokers.
If the ban…
c) People stand around drinking, gossiping and moaning about work. However, look closer and the situation is different.
Although…

Question 5. Write a short essay (120-150 words) on the following topic:
What do you think of the smoking ban introduced in Spain?

2011 to Be Best Year Ever

Futurologists and experts who study New Year’s resolutions predict 2011 will be the best year ever for many people. This is welcome news for the billions around the world who hope this year will be better than last year. 2011 will see more people lifted out of poverty and there will be a greater number of people with access to computers. One expert looked forward to new developments that will help the environment. California will open the world's largest solar power plant and several electric cars will go on sale, including the much-awaited Tesla. It’s going to be a great year if you study English. There will be more cool websites and applications for students to brush up on spelling, vocabulary and grammar.

It seems more of us will keep our New Year’s resolutions this year. According to a New Year’s Day poll, the top resolution is to spend more quality time with family and friends. This means talking to them rather than being on the phone or texting messages in front of them. The second most popular thing we will resolve to do is get fitter. Experts say many of us could keep this promise well into February before giving up. We usually forget about this resolution in mid-January. Other top plans include quitting smoking, getting out of debt and helping others. Of course, studying English more featured high on many people’s lists. Make 2011 your best ever year and stick to your resolutions.

Question 1. Indicate whether these sentences are true or false. Justify your answers with evidence from the text.

a) More poor people will no longer be poor.
b) A new solar-powered car called Tesla will go on sale.
c) The most common New Year’s resolution is to save money.
d) Experts believe many people will keep resolutions about getting fit until May.

Question 2. Answer the following questions in your own words.

a) What are the predictions for the environment?
b) What do experts predict for people´s health?

Question 3. Find a word or a phrase in the text that means the same as
a) improve (par.1) b) survey(par. 2) c) keep (par. 2)

Question 4. Rewrite the following sentences without changing the meaning
a) “Billions of people hope this year will be better than last year. “
They said that …………………………………………….
b) They will open a new solar power plant and launch good English learning websites.
A new solar ……………………………………………….
c) People will find it easier to study English since there will be good websites.
If there were ………………………………………………

Question 5. Write a short essay (120-150 words) on the following topic:
What will you do to make 2011 the best year ever?


Some useful vocabulary for your New Years’ Resolutions

Verbs and expressions
make a resolution/ to resolve to do something
make a decision/to decide to do something
to make a promise/to promise to do something
to look forward to doing something
give up/stop
keep up/stick to a resolution
to keep your promise

Adjectives
realistic unrealistic
ambitious not ambitious enough
achievable unachievable

Nouns
goal, ambition, intention


Blog with a video on how to make and keep resolutions
http://esolcourses.blogspot.com/2011/01/english-vocabulary-new-years.html

2011 to Be Best Year Ever

Futurologists and experts who study New Year’s resolutions predict 2011 will be the best year ever for many people. This is welcome news for the billions around the world who hope this year will be better than last year. 2011 will see more people lifted out of poverty and there will be a greater number of people with access to computers. One expert looked forward to new developments that will help the environment. California will open the world's largest solar power plant and several electric cars will go on sale, including the much-awaited Tesla. It’s going to be a great year if you study English. There will be more cool websites and applications for students to brush up on spelling, vocabulary and grammar.

It seems more of us will keep our New Year’s resolutions this year. According to a New Year’s Day poll, the top resolution is to spend more quality time with family and friends. This means talking to them rather than being on the phone or texting messages in front of them. The second most popular thing we will resolve to do is get fitter. Experts say many of us could keep this promise well into February before giving up. We usually forget about this resolution in mid-January. Other top plans include quitting smoking, getting out of debt and helping others. Of course, studying English more featured high on many people’s lists. Make 2011 your best ever year and stick to your resolutions.

Question 1. Indicate whether these sentences are true or false. Justify your answers with evidence from the text.

a) More poor people will no longer be poor.
b) A new solar-powered car called Tesla will go on sale.
c) The most common New Year’s resolution is to save money.
d) Experts believe many people will keep resolutions about getting fit until May.

Question 2. Answer the following questions in your own words.

a) What are the predictions for the environment?
b) What do experts predict for people´s health?

Question 3. Find a word or a phrase in the text that means the same as
a) improve (par.1) b) survey(par. 2) c) keep (par. 2)

Question 4. Rewrite the following sentences without changing the meaning
a) “Billions of people hope this year will be better than last year. “
They said that …………………………………………….
b) They will open a new solar power plant and launch good English learning websites.
A new solar ……………………………………………….
c) People will find it easier to study English since there will be good websites.
If there were ………………………………………………

Question 5. Write a short essay (120-150 words) on the following topic:
What will you do to make 2011 the best year ever?


Some useful vocabulary for your New Years’ Resolutions

Verbs and expressions
make a resolution/ to resolve to do something
make a decision/to decide to do something
to make a promise/to promise to do something
to look forward to doing something
give up/stop
keep up/stick to a resolution
to keep your promise

Adjectives
realistic unrealistic
ambitious not ambitious enough
achievable unachievable

Nouns
goal, ambition, intention


Blog with a video on how to make and keep resolutions
http://esolcourses.blogspot.com/2011/01/english-vocabulary-new-years.html

Smoking ban lights up love life

KEY

Question 1

a) TRUE “Welcome to the practice of smirting (smoking and flirting), a craze which has swept Ireland.”
b) TRUE “the opportunities to start a conversation are many and easy.”
c) FALSE “Nor is it simply hardened smokers who hang out outside, there are also people who weren't really smokers at all but they'd go outside for a cigarette.
d) TRUE “many young Dubliners admit that they have increased their consumption of cigarettes because of the social benefits.”

Question 2

a) Smoking is said to be a social habit as you have more chances to get to know new people and what’s more, starting conversations is much easier.
b) The most negative aspect of smirting is that the number of social smokers has gone up in spite of the ban on smoking inside public places.

Question 3

a) ban
b) moaning / to moan
c) striking up / to strike up

Question 4

a) The ban was supposed to improve people’s health, according to anti-smoking campaigners.
b) If the ban hadn’t been introduced, pubs and bars wouldn’t have opened areas for smokers.
c) Although people stand around drinking, gossiping and moaning about work, look closer and the situation is different.