1. Beijing smog
EPISODE 151208 / 08 DEC 2015
Step 1: Listen
You're going to hear a genuine BBC news report. Before you listen, read these
three summaries:
a) The use of some vehicles has been banned in Beijing because the air pollution
is at a dangerous level.
b) Driving has been made illegal in Beijing because the air pollution is at a
dangerous level.
c) There's a state of emergency in Beijing because the air pollution is at a
dangerous level.
Now listen and decide which one is correct. Listen again if you need to.
Step 2: Learn the key words and listen again
How was that? Try listening again. Here are three definitions of key vocabulary
items which may help you.
severe restrictions
strict limits
2. declared
stated officially
red alert
a warning that something dangerous will probably happen
Step 3: Transcript and answer
Severe restrictions are in force in Beijing to limit air pollution after the
city declared a red alert for the first time.
Half the city's vehicles have been banned from the roads.
Answer
a) The use of some vehicles has been banned in Beijing because the air pollution
is at a dangerous level.
This bulletin comes from BBC World Service Radio.
