News Report

Intermediate level

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

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.

 

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