Module E Practice: Comics and Third-Hand Smoke

Name: COMICS ARTISTS LINES 1-5Comic strips are extremely popular in Britain nowadays, with a recent survey showing that 84% of newspaper readers go straight to the comics pages. However, according to the same survey, only 10% know the names of the artists who create them. Now the National Journalists Association (NJA) has decided to focus public attention on these talented individuals by awarding five annual prizes for Outstanding Comic Strip Artist.LUNES 6-10"This is real recognition of all the effort we put in," said Richard Harris, one of the prize winners. The job is great fun, he explained, but that's not the whole story. Hard work, as well as inspiration and talent, are required to come up with a steady stream of new ideas. Competition is fierce, and those who do find employment must deal with the pressure of crazy deadlines. Nevertheless, he added, thousands of creative young people just out of art school are eager to enter the field.LINES 11-16Laura Miller, another prize winner, is unusual in that she only came to the profession at the age of 32. "I've had a passion for comics since childhood," said Ms Miller, "but never imagined one could make a living drawing them." So she took what she called "the conventional route for artistic youngsters" – university studies, and then a job in publishing. One day she came across an ad for a course that trained people for a career in comics, and jumped at the opportunity. Soon afterwards, she was working for three newspapers. Now, 15 years later, she is still glad she made the switch: "Where else would I get paid for my wildest ideas?"LINES 17-21All the prize winners stressed how much they appreciated the chance to meet with their fellow artists at the award ceremony. "It's such a solitary occupation," said Ms Miller. "Most of us are self-employed, and regularly spend 14-hour workdays alone at home. So it's wonderful to get together with other people in the profession." Almost as wonderful as seeing one's comic strips in print every week – which is certainly reward enough in itself.(Adapted from "The sit-down comic" BBC News, 15 December 2008 1. COMPLETE THE SENTENCE. According to lines 1-5, why did the NJA decide to focus public attention on comic strip artists? ANSWER:Because not many / few people / only 10% know their names / who they are / the names of these talented individuals. 2. What does the word "This" in line 6 refer to? The survey. The NJA. The prize. The job. 3. What does Richard Harris explain in lines 6-10? How he found employment. Why comics artists deserve recognition. Where he finds inspiration. Which talents the profession requires. 4. COMPLETE THE SENTENCE. ANSWER:In lines 6-16, both Richard Harris and Laura Miller give a reason why they like / enjoy their job / work / drawing comics / are comic strip artists (and other suitable phrasings). 5. GiveTWOreasons why people mightNOTwant to become comics artists. Take your answers from TWO different paragraphs. ANSWER:(1) Lines 1-6: People don't know who they / you are / your name.(2) Lines 7-12: The / It's hard work / The work is hard. / You need inspiration and / or talent and / or to come up with a steady stream of new ideas. / Competition is fierce. / There is competition. / (You / Artists must deal with the pressure of the) crazy deadlines. / the pressure. Lines 21-26: It's a solitary occupation / being alone at home You get lonely (the) long / 14-hour workdays (alone at home). 6. CHOOSETWOCORRECT ANSWERS. What information is given in lines 11-16 about Laura Miller's career as a comics artist? What kind of comics she draws. How her university studies helped in this career. Why this career started late. Where she gets ideas for her comic strips. How she began this career. Why her work is so popular. 7. In the writer's opinion, the most rewarding aspect of being a comics artist is (–). (lines 17-21) receiving awards for your work being well paid for what you do meeting other comic strip artists getting your work published THE DANGERS OF THIRD-HAND SMOKE 8. What does Dr. Robinson say at the beginning of the interview about parents who smoke? They try to avoid harming their children. They smoke less than people who don't have children. They have more health problems than other parents. They try hard to stop smoking. 9. CHOOSE TWO CORRECT ANSWERS. What information are we given about third-hand smoke? What it is. What it looks like. How to get rid of it. How researchers found out about it. What kinds of health problems it causes. Who is most in danger of being harmed by it. 10. How do people come into contact with third-hand smoke? Give ONE answer ANSWER: By touching something / sitting down / putting your fingers in your mouth / being in a room where people smoked / have been smoking. / It sticks to you / everyone / everything / skin, hair and / or clothing. / It gets into furniture and / or carpets. 11. What did the study find regarding third-hand smoke? People don't like to answer questions about it. It affects 23% of the population. Most people don't know about its risks. Non-smokers are more aware of it than smokers. 12. COMPLETE THE SENTENCE. How did awareness of third-hand smoke affect people's behavior? Give ONE answer according to the study. ANSWER:They don't allow / stop allowing people to smoke near their children / in their house / homes.