【一起听英语】中国的空气污染

 中国的空气污染有多严重，空气污染会给人的身心健康带来哪些危害？

Rob: Hello I'm Rob. Welcome to 6 Minute English. I'm joined today by Finn. Hello

Finn.

Finn: Hello Rob.

Rob: In this programme we're talking about a serious problem that has been

affecting some of the big cities in China: that's air pollution.

Finn: Yes, or better known as smog. Smog is polluted air that is a mixture of

smoke and fog. I've experienced¹ this in Shanghai and it's not a nice thing to

breathe in.

Rob: It certainly isn't good for your health. We'll talk more about this soon and

explain some pollution-related vocabulary. But let's start with a question for

you, Finn. According to research by the World Health Organisation², which

country has the city with the world's worst air pollution? Is it:

a) China

b) India

c) Iran

Finn: Well, I think it definitely³ used to be China. I'm going to say it's still China.

Rob: We'll find out if you are right later on. Let's talk more now about the pollution

problem which is choking – or making it difficult to breathe in – many

Chinese cities.

Finn: Pollution is a word that can describe anything that damages something that is

pure. So light pollution is when a pure dark sky is contaminated⁴ – or spoiled

by street lights and lights in the city.

Rob: And noise pollution is when loud or annoying sounds like traffic noise spoil⁵ a

quiet and peaceful environment. But the smog affecting Chinese cities is a

form of air pollution – clean air has become dirty.

Finn: Yes. Well, smog used to be a problem in other world cities like London, where

a combination⁶ of fog and smoke from factories and trains sometimes made

the air quite dirty and dangerous.

Rob: Yes, sometimes the air was so dirty and so thick they described it as a 'peasouper'

– meaning as thick as pea soup!

Finn: A 'pea-souper' – that's good isn't it! In Los Angeles, fumes⁷ – that's the bad

gases from car engines – and poor weather conditions used to cause poor air

quality. But now, new laws and a change in technology mean the air in these

cities is cleaner and safer. So, Rob, why is it bad in China now?

6 Minute English ©British Broadcasting Corporation⁸ 2014

Page 2 of 4

Rob: Well Finn, China is becoming more industrialised. That means more factories

are being built, and more electricity is needed, and that often comes from

coal-fired power stations. And of course, more people are driving cars.

Finn: Yes they are. Well, at certain times last year, the air was so poisonous in

Shanghai that children were not allowed outside and schools were closed.

Rob: Generally, the air is a threat to public health. It's particularly bad for people

with asthma⁹ – and it could lead to lung cancer. In the capital Beijing,

pollution regularly goes over the safety limits set by the World Health

Organization (WHO). So what can be done?

Finn: Well, the BBC's David Shukman has been investigating the problem and found

that the Chinese authorities¹⁰ are spending £180 billion on cleaning up the air.

See if you can hear what the two main things are that they're trying to do in

Beijing:

David Shukman, BBC Science Editor:

Well first, they're closing down any power stations within the city that burn coal, that's the

biggest source of pollution; next they're trying to limit road traffic – greener cars will get

priority¹¹. And officials say they're confident they can clean up.

Rob: So the plan is to close down coal-fired power stations because they are the

source – or the place where most of the pollution comes from.

Finn: Yes, and the other plan is to limit – to set a maximum amount of – traffic on

the roads. Greener cars will be allowed on the roads first – they will have

priority.

Rob: Of course 'greener' isn't referring to the colour of the car, Finn – it's a term to

describe something that causes less pollution and is better for the

environment.

Finn: So these are the cars that use less fuel or might use cleaner fuel that has less

particles¹² in it that usually make the air dirty. Officials believe that this green

technology will clean up the air.

Rob: China is also going to use more renewable energy – this is power made by

natural materials that never get used up, such as wind and water. This would

reduce air pollution caused by burning coal.

Finn: Yes, well of course, all these changes will take a long time. But Rob, it's time

now for you to tell me the answer to today's question.

Rob: Yes, earlier I asked you, according to research by the World Health

Organisation, which country has the city with the world's worst air pollution?

Finn: I thought it was a) China.

Rob: You did but the answer is Iran.

Finn: Is it now?! Which city?

Rob: Apparently¹³ the city of Ahwaz. Now, before we go, Finn, could you remind us of

some of the vocabulary that we've heard today?

6 Minute English ©British Broadcasting Corporation 2014

Page 3 of 4

Finn: OK. We had:

air pollution

smog

choking

contaminated

pea-souper

fumes

industrialised

poisonous

asthma

greener

renewable energy

Rob: Well, that brings us to the end of today's 6 Minute English. We hope you've

enjoyed today's programme. Please join us again soon.

Finn: Please do.

Rob: Bye bye.

Finn: Bye.

1 experienced   

adj.有经验的；经验丰富的，熟练的

参考例句：

• Experienced seamen will advise you about sailing in this weather.有经验的海员会告诉你在这种天气下的航行情况。
• Perhaps you and I had better change over;you are more experienced.也许我们的工作还是对换一下好，你比我更有经验。

2 organisation   

n.组织，安排，团体，有机休

参考例句：

• The method of his organisation work is worth commending.他的组织工作的方法值得称道。
• His application for membership of the organisation was rejected.他想要加入该组织的申请遭到了拒绝。

3 definitely   

adv.一定地，肯定地；明确地，确切地

参考例句：

• The team will definitely lose if he doesn't play.如果他不参加比赛，这个队肯定会输。
• I shall definitely be home before six o'clock.6点以前，我一定回家。

4 contaminated   

把…弄脏，污染( contaminate的过去式 )； 玷污，毒害，腐蚀（人的思想或品德）

参考例句：

• The drinking water has become contaminated with lead. 饮用水被铅污染了。
• The site was found to be contaminated by radioactivity. 发现此地受放射线污染。

5 spoil   

n.战利品，赃物，奖品，掠夺，次品；vt.损坏，破坏，溺爱；vi.腐坏，掠夺

参考例句：

• Don't bunch the flowers up so tightly,you'll spoil them.别把花束得这么紧，会弄坏的。
• Overacting will only spoil the effect.表演过火，效果反而不好。

6 combination   

n.组合，合并，联合；

参考例句：

• He carried on the business in combination with his friends.他与朋友们合伙做生意。
• The materials can be used singly or in combination.这些材料可以单独使用也可以混合用。

7 fumes   

n.(强烈而刺激的)气味，气体

参考例句：

• The health of our children is being endangered by exhaust fumes. 我们孩子们的健康正受到排放出的废气的损害。
• Exhaust fumes are bad for your health. 废气对健康有害。

8 corporation   

n.公司，企业&n.社团，团体

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation. 这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• The inflation did the corporation up. 通货膨胀使这个公司破产了。

9 asthma   

n.气喘病，哮喘病

参考例句：

• I think he's having an asthma attack.我想他现在是哮喘病发作了。
• Its presence in allergic asthma is well known.它在过敏性气喘中的存在是大家很熟悉的。

10 authorities   

n.当局，权力，权威；权威( authority的名词复数 )；权力；学术权威；[复数]当权者

参考例句：

• They interceded with the authorities on behalf of the detainees. 他们为被拘留者向当局求情。
• At his instigation we conceal the fact from the authorities. 我们受他的怂恿向当局隐瞒了事实。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 priority   

n.优先处理的事，居先，优先（权）

参考例句：

• The development of the national economy is a top priority.发展国民经济是应予以最优先考虑的事。
• Things should be taken up in order of priority.办事应有个先后次序。

12 particles   

微粒( particle的名词复数 )； 颗粒； 极少量； 小品词

参考例句：

• These small particles agglomerate together to form larger clusters. 这些颗粒聚结形成较大的团。
• The nucleus of an atom consists of neutrons, protons and other particles. 原子核由中子、质子和其他粒子构成。

13 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。