VOA慢速英语:Study: Smoking May Increase Risk of Schizophrenia

短语讲解：

1. Studies have linked cigarette smoking to a number of health problems, including lung cancer and heart disease.

a number of 一些; 许多的
例句：A number of local personalities were present at the meeting.
一些当地名人出席了会议。

2. They found that smoking is three times more common among schizophrenic patients coming to treatment for the first time compared to the general population.

compare to 把…比作， 喻为; 与…相比
例句：Cultural life in the country cannot compare to that of a large city.
农村的文化生活不能与大城市的相比拟。

3. “If the explanation was self-medication, you would expect that when people started to develop schizophrenia they would be no more likely to smoke than anybody else, and the smoking would then develop in response to the symptoms.”

in response to 对…做出反应
例句：He opened the door in response to a knock.
他应敲门声而开了门。

4. The researchers are calling for more studies on the possible link between smoking and nicotine dependency in the development of psychotic disorders.

call for 要求; 需要
例句：Different circumstances call for different tactics.
不同的情势需要不同的策略。