Second-hand Smoke Dangerous for the Unborn Child

Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

1. inhale (v.) [in-heyl] – to breathe in air to the lungs

Example: Humans inhale oxygen to live.

2. stillbirth (n.) [stil-burth] -  the birth of a baby who has already died in the mother’s womb

Example: Stillbirth is a painful experience for mothers.

3. second-hand smoke (n.) [sek-uhnd hand smohk] – the smoke that comes from the cigarette inhaled by another person

Example: Second-hand smoke is dangerous to your health.

4. womb (n.)  [woom] – a part of the female’s reproductive organ wherein the baby is formed

Example: She carried her child in her womb for nine months.

Article (10 minutes)
Let the student read the article aloud. For the Comprehension Questions, you may:
     (a) Ask the questions in between. Tell the student ahead of time when to pause from reading.
     (b) Ask the questions after he finishes reading everything. 

For words difficult to pronounce, pronunciation guides are provided beside the word.

Read the text below.

A British research warned fathers that smoking can put their future babies in danger.

A study based on 19 previous researches around the world showed that pregnant women who inhaled second-hand smoke were at risk of stillbirth by 23% and having a child with health problems by 13%.

Moreover, the study revealed that exposure to 10 cigarettes a day can already put a pregnant woman at high risk.

The women included in the study either had a partner or a co-worker who smoked.

Researchers are still uncertain how second-hand smoke causes risks of stillbirth and birth defects. They want to know whether it harms the babies while they are still in the mother’s womb or it affects the proper growth of the father’s sperm cell. Both cases were seen to be possible causes.

Cutting down the number of cigarettes may lessen the risks, but the best action that fathers-to-be can do is to quit smoking completely.

Women should also be aware of the risk of second-hand smoke so they can warn the people around them that smoking endangers their babies.

Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor. 

Discussion A

·         Do you think it is right to stop people from smoking in public? Why or why not?

·         What for you is the best solution to lessen second-hand smoke?

Discussion B

·         How can a mother ensure that her unborn baby will be healthy?

·         How can a father help in protecting his unborn baby?