The Risks Of Cigarette Smoke - IELTS Reading Answers & Explanations
From Cambridge IELTS 03 Academic Reading Test 1 · Part 2 · Questions 15–28
Reading Passage
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 15-28 which are based on Reading Passage 2 below.
The Risks of Cigarette Smoke
Discovered in the early 1800s and named nicotianine, the oily essence now called nicotine is the main active insredient of tobacco. Nicotine, however, is only a small component of cigarette smoke, which contains more than 4,700 chemical compounds, including 43 cancer-causing substances. In recent times, scientific research has been providing evidence that years of cigarette smoking vastly increases the risk of developing fatal medical conditions.
In addition to being responsible for more than 85 per cent of lung cancers, smoking is associated with cancers of, amongst others, the mouth, stomach and kidneys, and is thought to cause about 14 per cent of leukemia and cervical cancers. In 1990, smoking caused more than 84,000 deaths, mainly resulting from such problems as pneumonia, bronchitis and influenza. Smoking, it is believed, is responsible for 30 per cent of all deaths from cancer and clearly represents the most important preventable cause of cancer in countries like the United States today.
Passive smoking, the breathing in of the side-stream smoke from the burning of tobacco between puffs or of the smoke exhaled by a smoker, also causes a serious health risk. A report published in 1992 by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emphasized the health dangers, especially from side-stream smoke. This type of smoke contains more, smaller particles and is therefore more likely to be deposited deep in the lungs. On the basis of this report, the EPA has classified environmental tobacco smoke in the highest risk category for causing cancer.
As an illustration of the health risks, in the case of a married couple where one partner is a smoker and one a non-smoker, the latter is believed to have a 30 per cent higher risk of death from heart disease because of passive smoking. The risk of lung cancer also increases over the years of exposure and the figure jumps to 80 per cent if the spouse has been smoking four packs a day for 20 years. It has been calculated that 17 per cent of cases of lung cancer can be attributed to high levels of exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke during childhood and adolescence.
A more recent study by researchers at the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF) has shown that second-hand cigarette smoke does more harm to non-smokers than to smokers. Leaving aside the philosophical question of whether anyone should have to breathe someone else’s cigarette smoke, the report suggests that the smoke experienced by many people in their daily lives is enough to produce substantial adverse effects on a person’s heart and lungs.
The report, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (AMA), was based on the researchers’ own earlier research but also includes a review of studies over the past few years. The American Medical Association represents about half of all US doctors and is a strong opponent of smoking. The study suggests that people who smoke cigarettes are continually damaging their cardiovascular system, which adapts in order to compensate for the effects of smoking. It further states that people who do not smoke do not have the benefit of their system adapting to the smoke inhalation. Consequently, the effects of passive smoking are far greater on non-smokers than on smokers.
This report emphasizes that cancer is not caused by a single element in cigarette smoke; harmful effects to health are caused by many components. Carbon monoxide, for example, competes with oxygen in red blood cells and interferes with the blood’s ability to deliver life-giving oxygen to the heart. Nicotine and other toxins in cigarette smoke activate small blood cells called platelets, which increases the likelihood of blood clots, thereby affecting blood circulation throughout the body.
The researchers criticize the practice of some scientific consultants who work with the tobacco industry for assuming that cigarette smoke has the same impact on smokers as it does on non-smokers. They argue that those scientists are underestimating the damage done by passive smoking and, in support of their recent findings, cite some previous research which points to passive smoking as the cause for between 30,000 and 60,000 deaths from heart attacks each year in the United States. This means that passive smoking is the third most preventable cause of death after active smoking and alcohol-related diseases.
The study argues that the type of action needed against passive smoking should be similar to that being taken against illegal drugs and AIDS (SIDA). The UCSF researchers maintain that the simplest and most cost-effective action is to establish smoke-free work places, schools and public places.
Questions
Questions 15–17 One Choice
Choose the appropriate letters A—D
Questions 18–21 Yes / No / Not Given
Do the following statements reflect the claims of the writer in Reading Passage 2?
YES if the statement reflects the claims of the writer
NO if the statement contradicts the claims of the writer
NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this
Questions 22–24 Matching Sentence Endings
Choose ONE phrase from the list of phrases A—J below to complete each of the following sentences.
A. includes reviews of studies in its reports.
B. argues for stronger action against smoking in public places.
C. is one of the two most preventable causes of death.
D. is more likely to be at risk from passive smoking diseases.
E. is more harmful to non-smokers than to smokers.
F. is less likely to be at risk of contracting lung cancer.
G. is more likely to be at risk of contracting various cancers.
H. opposes smoking and publishes research on the subject.
I. is just as harmful to smokers as it is to non-smokers.
J. reduces the quantity of blood flowing around the body.
Questions 25–28 Matching Features
Classify the following statements as being
NB You may use any letter more than once.
A. a finding of the UCSF study
B. an opinion of the UCSF study
C. a finding of the EPA report
D. an assumption of consultants to the tobacco industry
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q15 | B | and is thought to cause about 14 per cent of leukemia and cervical cancers. In 1990, smoking caused more than 84,000 deaths, mainly resulting from such problems as pneumonia, bronchitis and influenza | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that researchers believe smoking causes some cases of leukemia. It also notes that in 1990, thousands of deaths from smoking-related issues involve pneumonia. Answer Explanation: The answer means that there is a powerful and direct connection between cigarette smoking and the two diseases mentioned: leukemia (a type of cancer) and pneumonia (a lung infection). Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is identified in the second paragraph. The text states that smoking is believed to cause about 14 percent of leukemia cases. It also explains that a high number of deaths caused by smoking were due to illnesses like pneumonia. Therefore, both diseases are linked (connected) to the habit of smoking cigarettes. |
| Q16 | A | Carbon monoxide, for example, competes with oxygen in red blood cells and interferes with the blood’s ability to deliver life-giving oxygen to the heart | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that carbon monoxide takes the place of oxygen in the blood and makes it difficult for the heart to receive the oxygen it needs to stay healthy. Answer Explanation: The answer means that when you breathe in carbon monoxide, it makes it hard for your heart to get the oxygen it needs. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is choice A because the text explains how carbon monoxide affects the body. It uses the word 'competes,' which means carbon monoxide tries to take the place of oxygen in the blood. It also says it 'interferes' with the blood's job, meaning it gets in the way or stops the blood from carrying 'life-giving oxygen' specifically to the heart. |
| Q17 | C | Nicotine and other toxins in cigarette smoke activate small blood cells called platelets, which increases the likelihood of blood clots, thereby affecting blood circulation throughout the body | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that nicotine and other harmful substances in smoke make parts of the blood called platelets become active. This makes it much more likely for those blood cells to stick together and form clots, which changes how well blood travels through the body. Answer Explanation: The answer means that breathing in nicotine makes it more likely for blood to stick together and form solid lumps called clots. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is derived from the passage which states that nicotine works with other chemicals to turn on small cells in the blood called platelets. When these cells are turned on, or 'activated,' they are more likely to clump together and create blood clots. Therefore, nicotine encourages the formation of these clots, which can then block the flow of blood around the body. |
| Q18 | NO / N | Smoking, it is believed, is responsible for 30 per cent of all deaths from cancer and clearly represents the most important preventable cause of cancer in countries like the United States today | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that smoking causes 30 per cent of deaths specifically from cancer, not 30 per cent of the total number of people who die for any reason in the United States. Answer Explanation: The answer NO means the statement is not true according to the writer's claims in the text. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is NO because the author provides a specific statistic: smoking is responsible for 30 per cent of deaths from **cancer**. The statement, however, claims that smoking causes 30 per cent of **all deaths** in the United States. These are different because cancer is only one of many ways a person can die. Using a percentage meant for one specific group (cancer deaths) to describe a much larger group (all deaths) makes the statement incorrect. |
| Q19 | NOT GIVEN / NG | As an illustration of the health risks, in the case of a married couple where one partner is a smoker and one a non-smoker, the latter is believed to have a 30 per cent higher risk of death from heart disease because of passive smoking | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that if one person in a marriage smokes and the other does not, the person who does not smoke is in danger of dying from heart disease. It talks about the danger of breathing someone else's smoke, but it does not say that the non-smoker will start smoking too. Answer Explanation: The answer is NOT GIVEN because the passage does not tell us if a non-smoking husband or wife will start smoking because their partner smokes. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is NOT GIVEN because although the text mentions married couples where one person smokes and the other does not, it only talks about the health risks for the non-smoker. Specifically, it mentions that the non-smoker has a higher chance of dying from heart disease or getting lung cancer due to 'passive smoking' (breathing in the other person's smoke). The text never says whether the non-smoking partner is likely to 'take up' or start smoking themselves. Because this information is missing, the answer must be NOT GIVEN. |
| Q20 | YES / Y | It has been calculated that 17 per cent of cases of lung cancer can be attributed to high levels of exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke during childhood and adolescence | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that scientists have found that 17 percent of lung cancer cases happen because people were around a lot of cigarette smoke when they were children or teenagers. Answer Explanation: The answer YES means that the passage agrees with the statement that being exposed to smoke as a teenager or child can lead to lung cancer later in life. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is based on specific figures mentioned in the text regarding second-hand smoke. The passage explicitly links lung cancer cases to being around tobacco smoke during childhood and 'adolescence', which refers to the teenage years. By stating that 17 percent of lung cancer cases are caused by this early exposure, the author confirms that these young people are indeed at risk. |
| Q21 | NOT GIVEN / NG | The report, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (AMA), was based on the researchers’ own earlier research but also includes a review of studies over the past few years. The American Medical Association represents about half of all US doctors and is a strong opponent of smoking | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage mentions the names of the researchers and the journal that published the report, and even notes that the medical group (AMA) dislikes smoking, but it does not provide any details about financial support or payment for the study. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the text does not tell us who paid for the study done by the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF). Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is NOT GIVEN because while the passage mentions that the study was published in a journal by the American Medical Association (AMA) and that the AMA is a ‘strong opponent’ of smoking, it never mentions who funded or financed the research. Since there is no information about who provided the money for the study, we cannot confirm if opponents of smoking paid for it. |
| Q22 | E | A more recent study by researchers at the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF) has shown that second-hand cigarette smoke does more harm to non-smokers than to smokers | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that a study shows that breathing in someone else's smoke is more damaging to non-smokers than to the people who are actually smoking. Answer Explanation: The answer says that breathing in smoke from other people's cigarettes (known as passive smoking) is more dangerous for people who do not smoke than it is for the smokers themselves. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is based on findings from a study mentioned in the text. Researchers found that 'second-hand cigarette smoke'—which is the same as passive smoking—actually causes 'more harm' to people who do not smoke. This is because a smoker's body tries to adjust to the smoke, but a non-smoker's body is not prepared for it, making the damage worse. |
| Q23 | G | In addition to being responsible for more than 85 per cent of lung cancers, smoking is associated with cancers of, amongst others, the mouth, stomach and kidneys, and is thought to cause about 14 per cent of leukemia and cervical cancers | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage lists many different parts of the body that can get cancer because of smoking, showing that there are many different cancer risks for a person who smokes. Answer Explanation: The answer means that if you compare a smoker to someone who does not smoke, the smoker is more likely to get many different types of cancer. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is G because the passage provides a list of several different cancers caused by smoking. It explains that besides lung cancer, smoking is linked to cancers of the mouth, stomach, and kidneys, as well as leukemia and cervical cancer. The word 'various' in the answer choice means 'many different types,' which matches this list in the text. Since smokers are the ones inhaling tobacco directly, they face these many risks more than non-smokers do. |
| Q24 | H | The report, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (AMA), was based on the researchers’ own earlier research but also includes a review of studies over the past few years. The American Medical Association represents about half of all US doctors and is a strong opponent of smoking | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that the AMA has its own medical journal where research is shared. It also says that this group of doctors is a powerful enemy of smoking. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the American Medical Association (AMA) does not like smoking and shares scientific papers about it. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is supported by the text's description of the American Medical Association (AMA). The passage mentions that research is 'published in the Journal of the American Medical Association,' which shows they publish research. It also explicitly states that the organization is a 'strong opponent of smoking,' which means they are against it or 'oppose' it. |
| Q25 | A | The study suggests that people who smoke cigarettes are continually damaging their cardiovascular system, which adapts in order to compensate for the effects of smoking | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that the research found that when people smoke, their hearts and blood systems change to try to deal with the damage caused by the smoke. Answer Explanation: The answer 'A' means that the research done by the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF) found that the hearts and blood vessels of people who smoke change so they can manage the smoke in their bodies. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because the text specifically mentions a study by UCSF published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. This study discusses how people who smoke are constantly hurting their cardiovascular system, which refers to the heart and blood vessels. Importantly, it notes that this system 'adapts,' or adjusts, to make up for the damage caused by breathing in smoke. Because a smoker's body has already made these changes, they are less affected by environmental or second-hand smoke than someone who has never smoked. This discovery is presented as a result or finding of the UCSF research. |
| Q26 | B | Leaving aside the philosophical question of whether anyone should have to breathe someone else’s cigarette smoke, the report suggests that the smoke experienced by many people in their daily lives is enough to produce substantial adverse effects on a person’s heart and lungs | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage states that the UCSF report acknowledges an ethical concern about breathing someone else's smoke but calls it a 'philosophical question.' This indicates that the idea is a matter of opinion or moral debate, separate from the scientific facts found in the study. Answer Explanation: The answer B means that the statement—about whether it is right or wrong for people to breathe secondhand smoke—is considered an opinion rather than a hard fact in the UCSF study. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the passage identifies the issue of breathing someone else's smoke as a 'philosophical question.' This part of the text refers to the 'report' created by researchers at the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF). In academic and scientific writing, a philosophical question deals with ethics, morals, and beliefs (opinions) about what 'should' happen, which is different from a 'finding' that is proven by data or experiments. |
| Q27 | B | The UCSF researchers maintain that the simplest and most cost-effective action is to establish smoke-free work places, schools and public places | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that the experts from the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF) believe the easiest and most helpful step to take is to make schools, offices, and other public areas free of cigarette smoke. Answer Explanation: The answer B means that the idea of having public areas where smoking is not allowed is an opinion or a recommendation made by the UCSF researchers. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the text mentions that UCSF researchers believe a specific action should be taken. They describe the plan to create smoke-free areas as the 'simplest and most cost-effective,' which is another way of saying it is the 'best solution.' The word 'maintain' inside the passage shows that this is their viewpoint or opinion on how to solve the problem of passive smoking. |
| Q28 | C | A report published in 1992 by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emphasized the health dangers, especially from side-stream smoke | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage explains that the data from the EPA's 1992 report showed that smoke coming directly from the burning cigarette (side-stream smoke) is particularly dangerous to health. Answer Explanation: The answer C means that the statement—breathing in 'side-stream' smoke (smoke from the burning cigarette) is more dangerous than breathing in smoke breathed out by a smoker—is a conclusion found in the report by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because the passage explicitly mentions a 1992 report by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This report focused on the dangers of 'passive smoking,' which includes breathng in both exhaled smoke and side-stream smoke. By stating that the EPA 'emphasized' the dangers 'especially from side-stream smoke,' the text identifies the higher risk of this specific smoke type as a finding of that report. This is because 'especially' indicates that side-stream smoke was found to be more hazardous than the other type mentioned. |