Unlocking Word
Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in
today’s article.
1. graphic
(adj.) [graf-ik] – giving a clear and realistic description (e.g., use of
pictures)
Example: The outstanding presentation included
some graphic data of the company’s
growth.
2. grotesque
(adj.) [groh-tesk] – very unpleasant or ugly in appearance
Example: The biologists discovered new grotesque-looking insects.
3. deter
(v.) [dih-tur] – to discourage, prevent, or stop (someone or something) from doing an
action
Example: The economic problem deters some companies from hiring new
employees.
4. turn-off
(n.) [turn-awf, of] – a person or thing that causes dislike or distaste
Example: The movie was a turn-off; it had a boring story and uninteresting characters.
5. infringe
(v.) [in-frinj] – to violate or disobey (especially a law)
Example: Plagiarism is illegal because it infringes copyright law.
Article
Read the text below.
Tobacco companies have filed a lawsuit against
the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) over a new regulation that requires
them to print graphic health
warnings on cigarette packets.
Under this new regulation, cigarette companies
must put grotesque images on their
product labels as a form of health warning. Some of these images include dead
people, diseased lungs and rotten teeth.
According to Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius,
the new labels could deter young
people from starting to smoke and might be a turn-off to adult smokers. The regulation would also reduce the
estimated 443,000 annual deaths in US due to tobacco use.
However, five cigarette companies think this
regulation disadvantages them. According to the companies’ representative,
Floyd Abrams, using grotesque labels would scare away the consumers from
buying their products. He also argued against the government illegally
forcing them to use their product packaging as a tool for anti-smoking
campaigns. Doing so infringes the
companies' rights to free speech, the lawyer added. Instead of the images, he suggested that
the government could have just required them to use straightforward warnings
in plain text.
The FDA has responded by saying there is no sure
way of knowing if these images will stop people from buying cigarettes. They
also added that the government can regulate someone’s speech if it is what is
best for the public. As the lawsuit is being settled, cigarette companies are
still expected to push through with the new health warnings starting
September 2012.
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Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion
A
·
What
other regulations do you think can be made to discourage smokers?
·
Why
do you think some people still smoke despite some regulations?
Discussion
B
·
Do
you think the government should interfere in the marketing strategies of
company products? Explain your answer.
·
What
do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of companies in seeking
approval for their product packaging?
