It’s Becoming Harder to be a Smoker
Before You Read
What is your opinion about cigarette smoking?
Do you believe that companies should control our smoking habits?
Where I’m from, it’s hard to be a smoker. The price is really high and as a smoker it feels like you are singled out for having a terrible habit. In fact, when I went for a job interview some employers would ask if I smoked. If I smoked then this would be a bad mark against me getting a job. Some reasons were that smokers had to leave the building a lot to take time out to smoke and also if the company provided health insurance then the company would have to pay more for insurance. So when I first visited Korea a long time ago I was amazed to see people smoking inside office buildings. However, I see that times are changing.
These days, big companies are behind the drive to make their employees quit the smoking habit. I read that companies are using carrot and stick policies such as KOLON offering a cash reward if a smoker quits, to Lotte Department Store getting employees to sign an agreement to quit smoking, and if they didn’t then they would get a negative evaluation.
Really, I can see that the tables have turned on being a smoker in Korea. I really wonder how long it will be until the government will make a law that all buildings including all bars and restaurants are non-smoking, as is in Europe now. If you are a smoker, I guess the writing is on the wall; you may have to change your lifestyle. For me, a non-smoker, it’s good news because if someone lights up next to me in a restaurant it really gets up my nose, but I can’t say anything. I have to just move.
Guessing Meaning From Context
Now, match the letters of the phrasal verbs/words with the closest numbered meaning in the right column. The answers are at the bottom.
|
singled out |
A |
1 |
New beginning. New fashion or trend changes. Change in society. |
|
bad mark |
B |
2 |
Negative evaluation |
|
time out |
C |
3 |
Reward or punishment to get someone to do something. |
|
times are changing |
D |
4 |
Chosen from a group for special treatment |
|
behind the drive |
E |
5 |
Clear that everyone can understand and see. |
|
carrot and stick |
F |
6 |
To begin smoking a cigarette |
|
tables have turned |
G |
7 |
Free time. Take a break from something. |
|
writing is on the wall |
H |
8 |
Very much annoy/bother, something someone does that we really hate. |
|
light up |
I |
9 |
A big and complete change. |
|
gets up my nose |
J |
10 |
Something that is causing something to happen. |
A=4, B=2, C=7, D=1, E=10, F=3, G=9, H=5, I=6, J=8
Some Questions to help you use the new words/phrases
1. Have you ever been singled out at school or work to do something? Tell me about it.
2. What could a politician do that would give them bad marks and make voters not want to vote for them?
3. What do you do if you want time out from being busy at work or school?
4. How are times changing in Korea? What things are happening in Korean society?
5. In the reading, what is behind the drive to change the smoking culture in Korea?
6. If you have children what carrot or stick do you use to get them to do something? If you don’t have children, then answer using employees in your company or some other situation.
7. Why have the tables turned on smoking in Korea?
8. Why is the writing on the wall for smokers these days?
9. Do you agree that it is rude to light up in a restaurant?
10. What things really get up your nose?
Some example sentences using the new words/phrases
1. Kim Yuna has been singled out as the world’s greatest figure skater.
2. Forgetting your girl or boyfriend’s birthday will definitely get you a bad mark.
3. When I want time out from being busy I relax and read a good book.
4. Times have really changed in Korea, these days both husband and wife work.
5. Smart phones are one of the things that is behind the drive to increase the amount of wireless Internet hotspots in Seoul.
6. Some managers use punishment as a stick to make employers do things, other managers’ use a carrot like extra pay.
7. The tables have turned on the best golfers only coming from western countries, now some of the best golfers also come from East Asia.
8. The writing is on the wall for corrupt politicians, they can expect to go to jail.
9. It is illegal to light up in the subway.
10. People making a big noise early on Sunday morning really get up my nose.
ECK Education
