The Government is Cracking Down on Smoking in Public Places
I read this week that the Seoul Government is cracking down on smoking in public areas. For example, smokers in the Seoul Plaza will be fined 100,000 won! Does it seem that smokers are being singled out for punishment? Do you think this is fair? Actually, I think this is really just the thin edge of the wedge, or the beginning of the end for smoker freedoms. I was wondering when laws like this might kick in, in Korea. If you think this is harsh, then consider where I’m from, you can’t smoke in any public place especially bars, restaurants and cafes. For me as a non-smoker it’s been awesome, but for smokers, especially in the depth of a cold winter then it’s a drag. Businesses back home have had to adapt and in the beginning they cried that it would spell the end for a lot of business. Actually this didn’t happen, in fact businesses got more creative and were able to draw in customers to their bars that would not have previously come. If you think these new laws in Seoul are a burden, then consider in California; you can’t smoke even on the street and the price of a packet of cigarettes is about $5 to $6. If you’re a smoker then it’s something to think about; life is going to get harder.
Choose the number that is closest in meaning to the word/phrase in the reading
|
cracking down |
A |
1 |
Start of the final part towards the end of something |
|
singled out |
B |
2 |
Final, disaster, end because of some reason. |
|
thin edge of the wedge |
C |
3 |
Getting strict about something |
|
beginning of the end |
D |
4 |
To start or begin. |
|
kick in |
E |
5 |
attract |
|
a drag |
F |
6 |
Beginning of something bigger but worse |
|
spell the end |
G |
7 |
Bottom of something |
|
draw in |
H |
8 |
Choose something from a group of things for special treatment |
|
depth |
I |
9 |
Make you feel depressed, a disappointment |
A=3, B=8, C=6, D=1, E=4, F=9, G=2, H=5, I=7
Discussion Questions
1. What is something (illegal or other) that the Korean government is cracking down on these days?
2. Tell about a time you felt singled out for something. For example, you were singled out for punishment? (usually negative).
3. Do you agree that the new anti-smoking laws in Seoul are the thin edge of the wedge for smokers? Do you think this spells the end for cheap smoking and for smokers’ freedoms?
4. It is getting harder to get 전세 in Seoul. Do you think this is the thin edge of the wedge for this system? Is this the beginning of the end?
5. If more anti-smoking laws are made, then when do you think they might kick in?
6. Do you find the winter a drag? Why or why not?
7. What do you think is the best way to draw in more customers for a new product or service?
8. When do you think the depth of the housing price drop in Seoul will be?
Some example sentences
The police have cracked down on speeding drivers, and they have singled out areas around schools were some drivers drive too fast.
The teacher discovered copies of the exam answers with one student, but this is only the thin edge of the wedge because there is so much more cheating to discover.
Sales of desk top computers are declining, some say this is the beginning of the end for desk top computer sales.
The new law banning salespeople on the subway will kick in from January 1st.
The rains in Australia have continued so long that people feel it is a real drag.
“Have you heard of cloud computing? Some believe it spells the end for selling computer software the old way.
The end of season sale at Lotte Department store will draw in a lot of people looking for a bargain.
It is hard to know when the depth the financial crisis will be because there could more bad debt to discover.
ECK Education
