Group Activity 4 (At least 2 students are required to finish this activity) I.Read the following passage in 5 minutes and answer the questions. Even cancer can't stop Mui HONG Kong pop star Anita Mui (Mei Yanfang)was in fighting form last Friday when she announced she had cervical cancer. With fists clenched and dressed in a fitting tank top,she declared that she must go on,and that fans can expect her to make an appearance at a concert in Hong Kong in November. Speaking like a true star,one who has battled her way up to the top despite many hard knocks along the way,she said she would not let her illness disrupt her career. "Yes,I have cervical cancer,but it's benign and I am not about to die.I am here to tell you that I am fit and healthy,even though I am skinny,"she said. Anita's health has been a talking point during the past few weeks.Some local newspapers and magazines reported that she was so weak she could not leave her house. But Anita wanted everyone to get the facts right. She said the truth was she dared not continue her medical treatment for fear that the paparazzi would disturb other patients. "The most horrible thing is not the illness,but the rumours.There was a lot of speculation.I hid the truth about my condition not because it is an untouchable topic,but because my friends and fans are so worried about me,"she said. As the chairman of the Hong Kong Performing Artists Guild,Anita has always been vocal about injustices to other singers. In the press conference,she took the opportunity to remind the print media to report the truth,and nothing but the truth. Upon hearing the news,many of her fans couldn't hide their sadness. Born to a poor family in October 1963,the "big sister"of the Hong Kong entertainment scene began her singing career at the age of five. But her professional career only took off when she won a singing contest in the 1980s. She was then signed by Hong Kong's Capital Artists Record Company,and went on to build a
Group Activity 4 (At least 2 students are required to finish this activity) I. Read the following passage in 5 minutes and answer the questions. Even cancer can't stop Mui HONG Kong pop star Anita Mui (Mei Yanfang) was in fighting form last Friday when she announced she had cervical cancer. With fists clenched and dressed in a fitting tank top, she declared that she must go on, and that fans can expect her to make an appearance at a concert in Hong Kong in November. Speaking like a true star, one who has battled her way up to the top despite many hard knocks along the way, she said she would not let her illness disrupt her career. "Yes, I have cervical cancer, but it's benign and I am not about to die. I am here to tell you that I am fit and healthy, even though I am skinny," she said. Anita's health has been a talking point during the past few weeks. Some local newspapers and magazines reported that she was so weak she could not leave her house. But Anita wanted everyone to get the facts right. She said the truth was she dared not continue her medical treatment for fear that the paparazzi would disturb other patients. "The most horrible thing is not the illness, but the rumours. There was a lot of speculation. I hid the truth about my condition not because it is an untouchable topic, but because my friends and fans are so worried about me," she said. As the chairman of the Hong Kong Performing Artists Guild, Anita has always been vocal about injustices to other singers. In the press conference, she took the opportunity to remind the print media to report the truth, and nothing but the truth. Upon hearing the news, many of her fans couldn't hide their sadness. Born to a poor family in October 1963, the "big sister" of the Hong Kong entertainment scene began her singing career at the age of five. But her professional career only took off when she won a singing contest in the 1980s. She was then signed by Hong Kong's Capital Artists Record Company, and went on to build a
career as the "Madonna of Hong Kong,"with her outrageous costumes,raunchy stage performances and stream of hits.She is best known for her ever-changing image. And now she wants to be known for yet another image-of a person who is going to live her life to the fullest. This is why she has decided to go ahead with her November concert and other promotional activities Questions: 1.Do you like Anita Mui (Mei Yanfang)? 2.What is the most outstanding personality that you admire?Why do you put so much emphasis on this point? 3.Do you want to be a super star like Anita Mui (Mei Yanfang)?Why? II.Read the following passages in 8 minutes. 1.Tobacco ads:tough times IT can't advertise in China,technically speaking,but Dahongying has certainly found a way to get its name around-it's seen regularly on TV,billboards and in-store displays.But,if China decides to really get tough and apply the new United Nations anti-smoking treaty signed on November 10,the cigarette company's marketing strategy could go up in smoke. For years,despite a ban on cigarette ads on State-controlled CCTV,the Ningbo Cigarette Factory was able to peddle its Dahongying brand by pushing its other trade and education businesses. Ningbo has built Dahongying libraries,for example,in rural Chinese schools. Now,however,China,which is the world's largest consumer of cigarettes,is facing a tough problem-one that has dogged the US and Europe for years.What,exactly,is an advert?This is important since a ban on ads,promotions and sponsorships would follow ratification of the UN Framework Convention on Tobacco Control by the National People's Congress this spring. So,"It is possible that even the name 'Dahongying'could no longer show up in public,"says Lu Sheng,an official at the Ningbo Cigarette Factory. Print and broadcast ads for tobacco have been forbidden in China since 1995."Chinese laws are already very strict,"says Zheng Fugang,deputy secretary-general of the China Tobacco Society, an industry group. Yet marketers have found plenty of other ways to pitch their cigarettes. The Zhonghua brand,for example,has the slogan "Love our China,"since "Zhonghua"can be
career as the "Madonna of Hong Kong," with her outrageous costumes, raunchy stage performances and stream of hits. She is best known for her ever-changing image. And now she wants to be known for yet another image — of a person who is going to live her life to the fullest. This is why she has decided to go ahead with her November concert and other promotional activities. Questions: 1. Do you like Anita Mui (Mei Yanfang)? 2. What is the most outstanding personality that you admire? Why do you put so much emphasis on this point? 3. Do you want to be a super star like Anita Mui (Mei Yanfang)? Why? II. Read the following passages in 8 minutes. 1. Tobacco ads: tough times IT can't advertise in China, technically speaking, but Dahongying has certainly found a way to get its name around — it's seen regularly on TV, billboards and in-store displays. But, if China decides to really get tough and apply the new United Nations anti-smoking treaty signed on November 10, the cigarette company's marketing strategy could go up in smoke. For years, despite a ban on cigarette ads on State-controlled CCTV, the Ningbo Cigarette Factory was able to peddle its Dahongying brand by pushing its other trade and education businesses. Ningbo has built Dahongying libraries, for example, in rural Chinese schools. Now, however, China, which is the world's largest consumer of cigarettes, is facing a tough problem — one that has dogged the US and Europe for years. What, exactly, is an advert? This is important since a ban on ads, promotions and sponsorships would follow ratification of the UN Framework Convention on Tobacco Control by the National People's Congress this spring. So, "It is possible that even the name 'Dahongying' could no longer show up in public," says Lu Sheng, an official at the Ningbo Cigarette Factory. Print and broadcast ads for tobacco have been forbidden in China since 1995. "Chinese laws are already very strict," says Zheng Fugang, deputy secretary-general of the China Tobacco Society, an industry group. Yet marketers have found plenty of other ways to pitch their cigarettes. The Zhonghua brand, for example, has the slogan "Love our China," since "Zhonghua" can be
translated as China. The company also uses loopholes that allow corporations to expand into other areas,such as water production,where the parent company's name can be used.Or there may be the possibility of lax enforcement by local government. There is also the sponsorship of sports and community events,the in-store displays,and the use of scantily-clad girls with tobacco-label outfits handing out free cigarettes in bars.These help marketers sustain demand,even while the number of smokers in the West declines.China has 350 million smokers who consume 30 per cent of the world's cigarettes. The loopholes are so complex that ad executives say it's impossible to measure tobacco's contribution to China's US$10 billion advertising market because it's unclear what counts as a cigarette ad But tobacco is clearly big business:It contributed US$16 billion in tax revenues to the central government in the first nine months of this year. Anti-smoking groups see the treaty as a way for Beijing to get tougher on those companies that are using clever strategies to get around the existing laws. As elsewhere,Chinese marketers will likely turn to below-the-belt techniques like direct marketing,database building or loyalty programmes.Already,in the past two years,local brands have begun turning to multinational advertising agencies for help. Sports sponsorships have already become a controversial issue in China.Like many other Chinese tobacco companies,the Yunnan Hongta Group supports a local Soccer Club and it sponsored the Real Madrid soccer team during its visit to Kunming in August.Meanwhile,Shanghai is counting on tobacco advertising to generate funds for its new Formula 1 motor-racing track,now under construction. "The dilemma that tobacco companies face is that they have to spend a lot of money but have to promote within the very narrow confines of the law,"says James Duan,business director of OgilvyOne Worldwide in Guangzhou,who follows tobacco-marketing issues."The effectiveness of their ads suffers as they are forced to get more abstract,"he explains. 2.Antismoking Action in Society In the United States,the first direct action to curb smoking after the U.S.surgeon general's 1964 report on smoking was the mandate of a warning on cigarette packages by the Federal Trade Commission.This warning took effect in 1964 and was strengthened in 1969 to read:"Warning: The Surgeon General Has Determined That Cigarette Smoking Is Dangerous to Your Health."A stronger sequence of four alternative warnings was developed in 1984.In 1971 all cigarette advertising was banned from radio and television,and cities and states passed laws requiring
translated as China. The company also uses loopholes that allow corporations to expand into other areas, such as water production, where the parent company's name can be used. Or there may be the possibility of lax enforcement by local government. There is also the sponsorship of sports and community events, the in-store displays, and the use of scantily-clad girls with tobacco-label outfits handing out free cigarettes in bars. These help marketers sustain demand, even while the number of smokers in the West declines. China has 350 million smokers who consume 30 per cent of the world's cigarettes. The loopholes are so complex that ad executives say it's impossible to measure tobacco's contribution to China's US$10 billion advertising market because it's unclear what counts as a cigarette ad. But tobacco is clearly big business: It contributed US$16 billion in tax revenues to the central government in the first nine months of this year. Anti-smoking groups see the treaty as a way for Beijing to get tougher on those companies that are using clever strategies to get around the existing laws. As elsewhere, Chinese marketers will likely turn to below-the-belt techniques like direct marketing, database building or loyalty programmes. Already, in the past two years, local brands have begun turning to multinational advertising agencies for help. Sports sponsorships have already become a controversial issue in China. Like many other Chinese tobacco companies, the Yunnan Hongta Group supports a local Soccer Club and it sponsored the Real Madrid soccer team during its visit to Kunming in August. Meanwhile, Shanghai is counting on tobacco advertising to generate funds for its new Formula 1 motor-racing track, now under construction. "The dilemma that tobacco companies face is that they have to spend a lot of money but have to promote within the very narrow confines of the law," says James Duan, business director of OgilvyOne Worldwide in Guangzhou, who follows tobacco-marketing issues. "The effectiveness of their ads suffers as they are forced to get more abstract," he explains. 2. Antismoking Action in Society In the United States, the first direct action to curb smoking after the U.S. surgeon general’s 1964 report on smoking was the mandate of a warning on cigarette packages by the Federal Trade Commission. This warning took effect in 1964 and was strengthened in 1969 to read: “Warning: The Surgeon General Has Determined That Cigarette Smoking Is Dangerous to Your Health.” A stronger sequence of four alternative warnings was developed in 1984. In 1971 all cigarette advertising was banned from radio and television, and cities and states passed laws requiring
nonsmoking sections in public places and workplaces.This trend has continued and smoking is now banned at the federal and state levels in most government buildings and in many private businesses.As of February 1990 federal law banned smoking on all domestic United States airline flights under six hours in duration.By 1998 more than 90 percent of nonstop flights between the United States and all foreign countries were also smoke free. Since 1995 the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)has attempted to increase its jurisdiction over the marketing and advertising of tobacco products with the aim of reducing smoking,especially among teenage Americans.But in March 2000 the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that the FDA has no authority to regulate tobacco products.The United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration(OSHA)has proposed that smoking be banned in all workplaces,although such a law has not yet been passed. The tobacco industry has been increasingly criticized for its role in encouraging smoking, particularly in young people.Various lawsuits have been brought against tobacco companies to reclaim damages due to disease or death associated with smoking.The first major successful suit occurred in March 1996 when the Liggett Group,a consortium of companies,agreed to pay damages to five states.An onslaught of litigation against the tobacco industry followed.In part to avoid potentially ruinous lawsuits filed by states,in 1998 the tobacco industry and attorneys general from 46 U.S.states agreed to a $206-billion settlement.The settlement,to be paid over 25 years,will be used to compensate states for the costs of treating smoking-related illness,to finance nationwide antismoking programs,and to underwrite health care for uninsured children. The tobacco industry must also contend with a barrage of lawsuits filed by individual smokers and their families seeking damages for smoking-related health problems and deaths.Across the United States,such lawsuits have had mixed results.In several cases,juries have cleared the tobacco companies of all responsibility.While several other cases have resulted in large awards for the plaintiffs,few hold up under the appeals process. IIL.After you have finished all the passages,discuss the following topics with your partner or group members. 1.Do you smoke?How about your families? 2.Do you smoke in public places or do you allow this kind of action happening in public places? Why? 3.Have you ever seen any ads for tobacco?Where did you see them? 4.Should ads for tobacco be banned?What would be the consequences and significance? IV.A 5-min Talk. Making Money over Our health?
nonsmoking sections in public places and workplaces. This trend has continued and smoking is now banned at the federal and state levels in most government buildings and in many private businesses. As of February 1990 federal law banned smoking on all domestic United States airline flights under six hours in duration. By 1998 more than 90 percent of nonstop flights between the United States and all foreign countries were also smoke free. Since 1995 the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has attempted to increase its jurisdiction over the marketing and advertising of tobacco products with the aim of reducing smoking, especially among teenage Americans. But in March 2000 the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that the FDA has no authority to regulate tobacco products. The United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has proposed that smoking be banned in all workplaces, although such a law has not yet been passed. The tobacco industry has been increasingly criticized for its role in encouraging smoking, particularly in young people. Various lawsuits have been brought against tobacco companies to reclaim damages due to disease or death associated with smoking. The first major successful suit occurred in March 1996 when the Liggett Group, a consortium of companies, agreed to pay damages to five states. An onslaught of litigation against the tobacco industry followed. In part to avoid potentially ruinous lawsuits filed by states, in 1998 the tobacco industry and attorneys general from 46 U.S. states agreed to a $206-billion settlement. The settlement, to be paid over 25 years, will be used to compensate states for the costs of treating smoking-related illness, to finance nationwide antismoking programs, and to underwrite health care for uninsured children. The tobacco industry must also contend with a barrage of lawsuits filed by individual smokers and their families seeking damages for smoking-related health problems and deaths. Across the United States, such lawsuits have had mixed results. In several cases, juries have cleared the tobacco companies of all responsibility. While several other cases have resulted in large awards for the plaintiffs, few hold up under the appeals process. III. After you have finished all the passages, discuss the following topics with your partner or group members. 1. Do you smoke? How about your families? 2. Do you smoke in public places or do you allow this kind of action happening in public places? Why? 3. Have you ever seen any ads for tobacco? Where did you see them? 4. Should ads for tobacco be banned? What would be the consequences and significance? IV. A 5-min Talk. Making Money over Our health?