Listening

Warm Up

Helpful Words and Phrases

Listen and repeat.

  1. graphic
    • ex. The movie included graphic scenes of violence that are not good for children.
  2. violate
    • ex. Brian received punishment for violating the company rules.
  3. a regulator
    • ex. The regulators checked the restaurant to see if it followed health and safety rules.
  4. a label
    • ex. Always read the labels on the medicine bottle before taking any tablets.
  5. factual
    • ex. The book provides factual information about dinosaurs for children to learn.

Article

Read the article below and answer your tutor's questions.

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The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said that putting required graphic images on cigarette packs and ads is okay. The images show the harmful effects of smoking. The court decided that it doesn’t violate the people’s freedom of speech. The court also rejected the argument that those images cover messages written on the packs and ruin cigarette brands’ designs.

The court’s decision was good news for regulators who want to improve warning labels. However, some still doubt the court’s decision. They say another court must take a look at the issue. For example, a judge in Texas said that the labels violated the freedom of speech. But Judge Jerry Smith of the 5th Circuit said that the court disagrees because the warnings are factual and already known to the public.

The said images include pictures of sick people with different warning messages. Some include graphic photos of damaged lungs and black feet caused by smoking. Nearly 120 countries around the world have used larger graphic warning labels. Studies suggest that those images are more effective in encouraging people to stop smoking. They are also effective in helping people see the harmful effects of smoking.

This material was based on an article by The Associated Press.

Discussion

Choose a topic and discuss the questions with your tutor.

Cigarette Packs

  • The 5th Circuit decided that putting graphic images on cigarette packs and ads is okay. What would be the effect of using graphic images on cigarette packs on consumers (ex. they’ll stop smoking, they’ll still smoke cigarettes)? Discuss.
  • In your opinion, what would be the effect of using graphic images on cigarette packs on the tobacco industry (ex. lower sales, increased price)? Discuss.
  • In nearly 120 countries, larger texts and graphic images are used on cigarette labels. Why do you think people still smoke cigarettes despite the warnings? Discuss.

Warning Labels

  • Do you think it is important that warning labels are factual? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • Which do you think is a more effective type of warning: an image or a text? Why? Discuss.
  • Aside from cigarettes, what products do you think should have graphic images as warning labels (ex. alcoholic drinks, sugary foods)? Why? Discuss.