新西兰英语 300 Smoking ban in prisons

　　The Corrections Minister, Judith Collins, says that smoking in prisons will be banned from July 2011. Prison will be safer because there will be no cigarettes, no lighters¹ and no matches. At the moment, prisoners are allowed to smoke in their cells and in the outside yard. There are 8,700 prisoners in jails in New Zealand. 5,800 of them smoke. That’s about two thirds of all prisoners.
Judith Collins said that next year prisons will be a healthier environment for the prisoners and for the prison guards. The guards are the only workers in New Zealand who have to breathe in second-hand² smoke at work. In all other workplaces, it is illegal to smoke.
A Human Rights lawyer, Michael Bott, says prisoners will become more dangerous if they are not allowed to smoke. Nicotine³ is a drug which helps them to relax. However, Judith Collins is more concerned about the rights of the prison guards, not the prisoners.
Prisoners will have one year to help them give up smoking. They can take an eight-week course to help them quit smoking and will be given free nicotine patches.
Questions
1. Do you think prisoners should be allowed to smoke in the outside yard?
2. Just under 22% of all New Zealanders smoke. Why do you think the percentage of smokers⁴ in prison is around 66%?
3. The number of smokers in New Zealand is dropping slowly, especially among young people. Do you think it’s possible to have a smoke-free New Zealand by 2020?

1 lighters   

n.打火机，点火器( lighter的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The cargo is being discharged into lighters. 正在往驳船里卸货。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Babies'bootees and cheap cigarette lighters were displayed in unlikely juxtaposition. 儿童的短靴和廉价的打火机很不相称地陈列在一起。 来自辞典例句

2 second-hand   

adj.用过的，旧的，二手的

参考例句：

• I got this book by chance at a second-hand bookshop.我赶巧在一家旧书店里买到这本书。
• They will put all these second-hand goods up for sale.他们将把这些旧货全部公开出售。

3 nicotine   

n.(化)尼古丁，烟碱

参考例句：

• Many smokers who are chemically addicted to nicotine cannot cut down easily.许多有尼古丁瘾的抽烟人不容易把烟戒掉。
• Many smokers who are chemically addicted to nicotine cannot cut down easily.许多有尼古丁瘾的抽烟人不容易把烟戒掉。

4 smokers   

吸烟者( smoker的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Many smokers who are chemically addicted to nicotine cannot cut down easily. 许多有尼古丁瘾的抽烟人不容易把烟戒掉。
• Chain smokers don't care about the dangers of smoking. 烟鬼似乎不在乎吸烟带来的种种危害。