Answer Close-Reading Questions
Have students write their responses, or use the Close-Reading Questions to guide a discussion.
• What are some of the health risks of cigarettes and e-cigarettes? (Key Details)
Cigarettes contain tobacco, which has chemicals that can lead to cancer. Cigarettes and e-cigarettes both contain nicotine, which is addictive and can result in brain and lung damage. Vaping can also cause coughing, nausea, headaches, and other problems.
• In “Teens and E-cigarettes,” Brian King refers to an idiom that says you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink. Explain how this relates to vaping. (Figurative Language)
King is saying that the bright colors and appealing designs of newer vapes attract people to them similarly to the way that you can get a horse to walk over to water. The tempting flavors make people want to use the vapes or “drink.” Finally, the addictiveness of nicotine is like having something in the water that will make a horse keep drinking it.
• Why are illegal vaping products still found on many store shelves? (Cause and Effect)
Most vaping products on the market are not authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and some products like Elf Bars are banned from being imported to the United States. Although U.S. Customs and Border Protection is supposed to stop incoming shipments of the banned products, thousands of shipping containers show up at U.S. ports every day. Additionally, some shipments of e-cigarettes are mislabeled. And some companies rename banned products. For example, Elf Bar goes by at least one other name that is still allowed in.