Site icon IELTS.NET

Mastering “How Smoking Affects Your Health” IELTS Reading Comprehension

Nicotine and Dopamine in the Brain

Nicotine and Dopamine in the Brain

As an IELTS instructor with over two decades of experience, I’ve guided countless students towards achieving their target scores. One recurring theme I’ve observed is the apprehension surrounding health-related topics in the IELTS Reading section, particularly the impact of smoking. This article aims to demystify this topic and equip you with the skills to confidently tackle “how smoking affects your health” IELTS reading passages.

Understanding the Relevance of Smoking and Health in IELTS

The IELTS exam emphasizes your ability to comprehend and analyze information from various sources, including scientific articles, reports, and newspapers. Health, as a global concern, frequently appears in IELTS Reading passages, and the detrimental effects of smoking are often discussed within this context.

Understanding the terminology associated with smoking and its health consequences is crucial. Expect to encounter words like “nicotine,” “tar,” “carcinogen,” “respiratory illness,” “cardiovascular disease,” “passive smoking,” and “cessation.” Familiarizing yourself with these terms beforehand will significantly enhance your reading speed and comprehension.

Approaching “How Smoking Affects Your Health” Passages

Here’s a breakdown of how to effectively tackle IELTS reading passages related to this topic:

1. Pre-reading Skimming

2. Active Reading

3. Answering Questions

Example from an IELTS Reading Passage

Let’s consider a hypothetical passage titled “The Insidious Grip of Nicotine.” This passage might discuss how nicotine, a highly addictive substance in cigarettes, affects the brain by triggering the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure. It could further elaborate on how this chemical reaction reinforces smoking behavior, making it challenging to quit.

A potential question based on this passage could be:

What makes nicotine particularly difficult to give up?

The answer, based on our hypothetical passage, would be: Nicotine’s interaction with the brain’s reward system, specifically its stimulation of dopamine release, contributes to its addictive nature.

Nicotine and Dopamine in the Brain

Tips for Success

Conclusion

Successfully navigating “how smoking affects your health” passages in the IELTS Reading section requires a combination of vocabulary acquisition, active reading strategies, and understanding question types. By following the tips outlined in this article and consistently practicing your reading skills, you’ll be well-prepared to approach this topic with confidence and achieve your desired IELTS score.

Exit mobile version