F2F Class Notes (David)

Scientists are warning that people who smoke are in danger of damaging their eyes. The scientists say smokers are two times more likely to lose their vision than non-smokers. Everyone knows that smoking can damage the lungs and heart, but not many people know it could damage the eyesight. The scientists are from the Association of Optometrists (AOP) in the United Kingdom. The AOP has started a campaign to raise awareness of the danger of smoking to the eyes. The campaign is called “Stub it out”. The word “stub” means put out a cigarette by pushing the end against something hard; “stub it out” is saying, “stop smoking”. The AOP said only one in five people thinks smoking can damage the eyes.

The AOP explained why smoking is so harmful to the eyes. Cigarette smoke gets in the eyes and causes or worsens a number of different eye problems. Cigarette smoke contains toxic chemicals that can irritate and damage the eyes. Smoke contains tiny pieces of metals like lead and copper. These can get into the eyes and lead to cataracts – a condition that causes the eye lens to become cloudy. People with cataracts usually need an operation to restore their sight. Smoke can also increase the chance of worsening sight problems for people with diabetes. The AOP said smokers are also three times more likely to damage the eyes’ muscles. The AOP has encouraged smokers to quit.

Pronunciation

th sounds – make sure to focus on putting your tongue between your teeth.

s sounds – be sharper with your S sounds

Association – ah-so-she-a-shun

optometrist – op-TAH-mi-trist

cigarette – si-ger-et

contains – “ai” very often is a long A sound

toxic – tock-sick

irritate – eer-i-tate

tiny – t-AI-nee

Vocabulary

Association – usually an official group of people connected by a common interest or profession

campaign – a plan to do something, usually to inform people of some idea

awareness – knowing a helpful fact

contains – has inside of it, includes

toxic – very harmful to living things

irritates – bothers, 刺激， 干扰

tiny – very small

metal – 金属

lead – noun – a type of toxic metal – 铅 – pronounced like “led”

lead – verb – to take someone or something somewhere – pronounced l-ee-d

led – verb to have taken someone or something somewhere in the past, past tense of lead

copper – 铜

cataracts – 白内障

cloudy – not clear, 不透明

diabetes – 糖尿病