VOA慢速：瑞典即将成为“无烟国家”
Sweden Close to Becoming 'Smoke Free' Country
刘立军 供稿
TRANSCRIPT
Sweden is getting close to becoming the first "smoke-free" country in the European Union (EU). The country of 10.5 million people has had the lowest percentage of smokers in the EU for many years.
A country is "smoke-free" if less than five percent of the population smokes daily.
Only 6.4 percent of Swedes over the age of 15 were daily smokers in 2019. That was the lowest percentage in the EU. The Eurostat statistics agency says that across the 27 countries of the EU, the average was 18.5 percent.
Data from the Public Health Agency of Sweden show that the smoking rate has continued to fall, reaching 5.6 percent last year.
"We like a healthy way to live, I think that's the reason," said Carina Astorsson, who lives in Stockholm. Smoking never interested her, she added, because "I don't like the smell; I want to take care of my body."
Sweden says its anti-smoking actions improve health in several ways, including a lower rate of lung cancer.
Ulrika Arehed is secretary-general of the Swedish Cancer Society. She said Sweden was early to limit smoking in public places such as school playgrounds. Later, the country added smoking bans for outdoor restaurants and bus stations. The country also increased taxes on cigarettes and changed rules on how they can be sold.
However, other forms of tobacco remain popular in Sweden. Snus is a wet tobacco powder placed in the mouth next to the teeth.
Snus makers say their products help reduce cigarette smoking. But health officials say snus is another product that makes people addicted to nicotine, the main drug in tobacco.
"It is true that smoking is more harmful than most things you can do, including snus. But...there are many health risks even with snus," said Arehed.
Snus is such a popular part of Swedish culture that the country demanded an exemption to the EU's ban on smokeless tobacco when it joined the EU in 1995.
Patrik Hildingsson is a spokesman for Swedish Match, Sweden's top snus maker. He said officials should urge the tobacco industry to develop less harmful choices to smoking such as snus and e-cigarettes.
If snus and similar products are included, the World Health Organization (WHO) notes that more than 20 percent of adults in Sweden use tobacco. This brings Sweden close to the world average.
"Switching from one harmful product to another is not a solution," the WHO said in an email to The Associated Press.
Tove Marina Sohlberg is a researcher at Stockholm University's Department of Public Health Sciences. She said Sweden's anti-smoking rules have pushed smokers away from public spaces.
"We are sending signals to the smokers that this is not accepted by society," she said.
The WHO marked "World No Tobacco Day" on Wednesday.
I'm Ashley Thompson.
VOCABULARY
1. smoke-free adj. free from cigarette smoke; where smoking is not allowed 无人吸烟的；禁止吸烟的。例如：a smoke-free working environment无烟工作环境
2. snus n. 一种原产自瑞典的无烟烟草制品，是精细研磨的湿润烟草，以散装或类似于微型茶叶袋的小袋装形式销售。
3. addicted to sth.: unable to stop taking harmful drugs, or using or doing sth. as a habit 上瘾；成瘾；有瘾。例如：to become addicted to drugs/gambling 吸毒成瘾；嗜赌
4. exemption n. official permission not to do sth. or pay sth. that you would normally have to do or pay 免除；豁免。例如：She was given exemption from the final examination. 她已获准期末免试。
5. push away 赶走
QUESTIONS
Listen to the news and choose the best answer to each question you hear.
1. What percentage of Swedes over the age of 15 were daily smokers in 2019?
A) 5.6%.
B) 6.4%.
C) 18.5%.
D) 27%.
2. How do people define a "smoke-free" country?
A) If no one smokes daily.
B) If less than 10% of the population smokes daily.
C) If less than 5% of the population smokes daily.
D) If there is no tobacco industry in the country.
3. Which of the following is not mentioned as a way Sweden has fought against smoking?
A) Limiting smoking in public places.
B) Banning smoking in outdoor restaurants.
C) Increasing taxes on cigarettes.
D) Encouraging the use of e-cigarettes.
4. What is "snus"?
A) A type of candy.
B) A popular dish in Sweden.
C) A wet tobacco powder placed in the mouth.
D) A brand of cigarette.
5. What is the World Health Organization's opinion about using snus instead of smoking?
A) Snus is more harmful than smoking.
B) Snus is just as harmful as smoking.
C) Using snus is a good way to quit smoking.
D) Switching from one harmful product to another is not a solution.
KEY
1. What percentage of Swedes over the age of 15 were daily smokers in 2019?
A) 5.6%.
B) 6.4%.
C) 18.5%.
D) 27%.
【答案】B
【解析】细节题。题目问的是2019年瑞典15岁以上人群每日吸烟的比例，文章第二段提到这个数字是6.4%。
2. How do people define a "smoke-free" country?
A) If no one smokes daily.
B) If less than 10% of the population smokes daily.
C) If less than 5% of the population smokes daily.
D) If there is no tobacco industry in the country.
【答案】C
【解析】细节题。题目问的是人们如何定义“无烟国家”，根据文章第一段，“无烟国家”指的是每日吸烟率低于5%的国家。
3. Which of the following is not mentioned as a way Sweden has fought against smoking?
A) Limiting smoking in public places.
B) Banning smoking in outdoor restaurants.
C) Increasing taxes on cigarettes.
D) Encouraging the use of e-cigarettes.
【答案】D
【解析】细节题。题目问的是瑞典打击吸烟的方式，根据文章第六段，“Sweden was early to limit smoking in public places such as school playgrounds. Later, the country added smoking bans for outdoor restaurants and bus stations. The country also increased taxes on cigarettes and changed rules on how they can be sold.” 并没有提到鼓励使用电子烟。
4. What is "snus"?
A) A type of candy.
B) A popular dish in Sweden.
C) A wet tobacco powder placed in the mouth.
D) A brand of cigarette.
【答案】C
【解析】细节题。题目问的是“snus”是什么，根据文章第七段，“Snus is a wet tobacco powder placed in the mouth next to the teeth.”。
5. What is the World Health Organization's opinion about using snus instead of smoking?
A) Snus is more harmful than smoking.
B) Snus is just as harmful as smoking.
C) Using snus is a good way to quit smoking.
D) Switching from one harmful product to another is not a solution.
【答案】D
【解析】细节题。题目问的是世界卫生组织对于使用snus代替吸烟的看法，根据文章倒数第五段，“'Switching from one harmful product to another is not a solution,' the WHO said in an email to The Associated Press.”。
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