Track 13
In Beijing, pollution has become so bad that breathing the air in this city is dangerous.
There are days when the sun is invisible because of the smog. On these days, children do not
go to school and there is no construction work in the city. You can see people wearing masks
in order not to breathe in the dangerous smog.
Some people in Beijing have started buying bottled air from Canada in order not to breathe
in the dirty air of the city. They pay about $28 for a bottle of fresh air. They say that
the fresh bottled air helps them be active and do things like exercise which they never do
in dirty air.
A study shows that over 80 percent of Chinese people breathe in dangerous air. In fact,
about 4,000 people die from air pollution each day in China. According to researchers,
breathing Beijing’s air is like smoking a cigarette all day long.
Unfortunately, this problem is not unique to China. Worldwide, more than 3 million people
die each year from air pollution, according to a new study. This number could double by 2050
if we continue to pollute the air.
So, let’s take care of the air so that we’ll not need to buy bottled fresh air one day like
people in Beijing.
Track 14
I’ve heard some tourists say that they want to visit Beijing but are scared of the air
pollution or the smog. Well, I would say, no need to worry so much. It’s true that the air
in Beijing is heavily polluted, but I’ll give you some tips to keep your stay in Beijing
safe.
First, try not to visit Beijing in the winter. Just like most of the smogs in the world,
Beijing’s smog usually takes place in December. If you follow my advice, you’ll have less
chance of seeing smog. Second, bring an anti-pollution face mask to Beijing or buy one after
you arrive in Beijing. There are actually several different types of masks, some of which
are really effective. If you’re afraid that you’re not strong enough, buy