US Signs Global Tobacco Treaty

　　1. The United States has taken the first step toward approving a global tobacco treaty that promises to help control the deadly effects of tobacco use throughout the world.1 Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson signed the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC)this week at the United Nations. The Senate must still approve the treaty before the US can implement its provisions.

　　2. The FCTC was developed by the World Health Organization and approved by members of the World Health Assembly, including the United States, last year. Countries that ratify it would be required to enact strict tobacco control policies.2

　　3. For instance, cigarettes sold in those countries would have to have health warnings on at least 30% of the front and back of every pack.3 The treaty calls for higher tobacco taxes, restrictions on smoking in public places, and more promotion of tobacco prevention and cessation programs. It also requires bans on tobacco advertising, though there are some exceptions for countries like the United States, where the Constitution prohibits such an outright ban.

　　4. The impact of the treaty could be huge. The World Health Organization estimates that tobacco use kills nearly million people worldwide every year. In the US alone, about 440,000 people die each year from tobacco-related illnesses; about one-third of all cancers in the US are caused by tobacco use. If current trends continue, WHO estimates, by 2025 tobacco will kill 10 million people each year.

　　5. The treaty must be ratified by at least 40 countries before it can take effect. So far, 109 countries have signed it, and 12 have ratified it.

　　练习：

　　1.Paragraph l _______

　　2.Paragraph 2 _______

　　3.Paragraph 3 _______

　　4.Paragraph 4 _______

　　A What the FCTC Demands

　　B US Signing of the FCTC

　　C Opposition to the FCTC

　　D How the FCTC Came into Being

　　E What the FCTC Will Bring about

　　F Ratification of the FCTC

　　5.Signing the FCTC is only the first step toward _______.

　　6.Countries that ratify the FCTC will have to, among other things,_______.

　　7.It is hoped that the FCTC will greatly help to reduce deaths _______.

　　8.Much more countries have signed the FCTC than those that _______.

　　A have ratified it

　　B approving it

　　C implement its provisions

　　D restrict smoking in public places

　　E caused by tobacco use

　　F including higher tobacco taxes

　　答案与题解：

　　1.B　文章第一段主要讲美国朝着批准一项全球性烟草协议迈出了第一步,这一步指的就是美裹本周在联合国签署了烟草控制框架性协议(FCTC)一事。

　　2.D　文章第二段简要介绍了烟草控制框架性协议的形成过程。

　　3.A　文章第三段列举了烟草控制框架性协议的一些具体要求。

　　4.E　文章第四段通过列举吸烟所造成的危害旨在说明实施烟草控制框架性协议将产生的影响。

　　5.B　通过文章的第一句可知,签署烟草控制框架性协议只是批准该协议的第一步。

　　6.D　文章第二段说,通过烟草控制框架性协议的国家必须实施严格的烟草控制措施,而文章的第三段便列举了具体应实施的措施,其中便包括限制在公共场所吸烟。

　　7.E　文章第四段的第一句说,实施烟草控制框架性协议将产生巨大的影响。接下来便列举了吸烟所造成的巨大危害。可见人们希望该协议的实施将大大减少吸烟所造成的危害,尤其是大量的死亡。

　　8.A　从文章的第五段可知,签署烟草控制框架性协议的国家的数量大大超过批准该协议的国家的数量。

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（责任编辑：何莹莹）