Smoking ban lights up love life

KEY

Question 1

a) TRUE “Welcome to the practice of smirting (smoking and flirting), a craze which has swept Ireland.”
b) TRUE “the opportunities to start a conversation are many and easy.”
c) FALSE “Nor is it simply hardened smokers who hang out outside, there are also people who weren't really smokers at all but they'd go outside for a cigarette.
d) TRUE “many young Dubliners admit that they have increased their consumption of cigarettes because of the social benefits.”

Question 2

a) Smoking is said to be a social habit as you have more chances to get to know new people and what’s more, starting conversations is much easier.
b) The most negative aspect of smirting is that the number of social smokers has gone up in spite of the ban on smoking inside public places.

Question 3

a) ban
b) moaning / to moan
c) striking up / to strike up

Question 4

a) The ban was supposed to improve people’s health, according to anti-smoking campaigners.
b) If the ban hadn’t been introduced, pubs and bars wouldn’t have opened areas for smokers.
c) Although people stand around drinking, gossiping and moaning about work, look closer and the situation is different.