Passage 30
Earlier this week, a thick layer of smog rolled into China's capital city, turning skyscrapers into shadows and clear air into a yellow fog.
Why does smog keep blanketing Beijing?
Smog in China has many causes, including pollution from industries and traffic, but it tends to happen more often in the winter, when plummeting temperatures cause electricity demand to soar, and coal-fired power plants send more tiny particles of dust into the air.
Particles smaller than 10 micrometers are of particular concern to health experts, as particles that small can damage the lungs, aggravate asthma, and even cause heart attacks.
Particulate Matter（PM）
PM2.5：inhalable particles, with diameters that are generally 2.5 micrometers and smaller.
China is taking steps to address the issue.
The government has restricted driving in an effort to curb air pollution from cars.
But it has a long way to go.
China is still the world's largest consumer of coal by far, and plans to continue using the sooty source of power.
There is some cause for optimism.
Like Beijing, Los Angeles also had a serious smog problem.
But strict regulations implemented over the past few decades have helped reduce the amount of smog in Los Angeles, bringing back blue skies.
There's hope that they could return to China too, though residents shouldn't expect to breathe any time soon.
Road space rationing or driving restriction
· odd-even license plate policy
· end-number policy
· passenger car purchase policy
Drop Increase
Decline Climb
Decrease Skyrocket
Plummet Soar
Power plants Coal fire Nuclear Hydro-electric
"不要动不动就倾其所有，与其卑微到尘土里，不如留一些骄傲与疼爱给自己"