The Dangers ofSecond-hand Smoke

Most people knowthat cigarette smoking is harmful to their health.Scientific research showsthat it causes many kinds of diseases.In fact,many people who smoke get lung

cancer.However,EdwardGilson has lung cancer,and he has never smoked cigarettes.He lives with hiswife Evelyn,who has smoked about a pack of cigarettes a day

throughout theirmarriage.______(46) No one knows for sure why Mr.Gilson has lungcancer.Nevertheless,doctors believe that second-hand smoke may cause lungcancer in

people who do notsmoke because nonsmokers often breathe in the smoke from other people'scigarettes.______(47) The US Environmental Protection Agency reports that

about 53,000 peopledie in the United Stateseach year as a result of exposure to second-hand smoke.

The smoke that comesfrom a lit cigarette contains many different poisonous chemicals.In the past,scientists did not think that these chemicals could harm a nonsmoker's

health._______（48)They discovered that evennonsmokers had unhealthy amounts of these toxic chemicals in their bodies.As amatter of fact,almost all of us breathe

tobacco smoke attimes,whether we realize it or not.For example,we can not avoid second-hand smokein restaurants,hotels and other public places.Even though many public

places havenonsmoking areas,smoke flows in from the areas where smoking is permitted.

It is even harderfor children to avoid second-hand smoke______（49)Research shows that children who are exposed tosecond-hand smoke are sick more often than children

who live in homeswhere no one smokes and that the children of smokers are more than twice aslikely to develop lung cancer when they are adults as are children of

nonsmokers.The riskis even higher for children who live in homes where both parents smoke.

People are becomingvery aware of the dangers of second-hand smoke.______(50)______（49)

A.Recently,though,scientistschanged their opinion after they studied a large group of nonsmokers.

B.The Gilsons havebeen married for 35 years.

C.This smoke iscalled second-hand smoke.

D.However,second-handsmoke is dangerous to all people,old or young.

E.As a result,theyhave passed laws which prohibit people from smoking in many public places.