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Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow. (20 marks) B2B2 level level No. of Word: 747 15 No. of Word: 747 Destructive smog in China

[1] The 2014 Beijing International Marathon has been in a spotlight not because of its participants’ quality, 20 but because of its notorious air pollution. According to the World Health Organization, the daily pollution levels should not exceed an average of 25 micrograms per cubic metre of fine particulate matter. However, at one point along the running path the US embassy’s monitor reported the amount of fine particles reached a peak of 400 micrograms per cubic metre. This was 16 times over the limit recommended by the World 25 Health Organization.

[2] Fine particulate matter is a large component of the smog seen in the Beijing Marathon. These particles are small enough to be inhaled into the lungs and enter the bloodstream. Taking in these toxins not only impairs athletes’ respiratory system but also drastically reduces their performance and even damages their 30 health. Many participating athletes in the marathon wore masks to protect themselves. Nevertheless, many were forced to withdraw from the competition because of the extreme air pollution. Although China’s Gong Lihua was the second runner up in the women’s race, she was not satisfied with the air quality, as she told interviewers: “Running in this kind of smog, I felt I couldn’t sweat well and my body has been very sticky and moist.”

[3] Environmental experts have come to several reasons for the smog problem in China. First of all, smog results from air pollutant particles. These pollutant particles come from emissions from coal power factories. As China has been focusing a lot on industrialization and the economic growth, more power plants and factories have been built. These infrastructures consume an enormous amount of coals to generate power. Coal-burning will emit a significant mass of air pollutant particles which are discharged into the atmosphere. Apart from large manufacturing enterprises, the tremendous increase in private cars also contributes to the emission of particles.

[4] The lack of wind in the cities is another factor that causes the smog. Without wind, the fine particles will not be blown away and continue to float in the air. The trapped particles therefore cause the blurry view in cities such as Beijing and Shanghai. Last but not least, deforestation (for attaining more land to build industrial facilities) is a major reason for the enduring air pollution. The leaves in trees are the most natural air filters. They absorb the toxic gases, detoxify them and then release into the air the cleaner gases. However, deforestation has cut down millions of trees that help to clean the air.

[5] Air pollution causes great economic loss to China, which still relies greatly on agriculture. The smog blocks out the sunlight and therefore hinders the photosynthesis of plants. Since the light is vital for plants to convert solar energy to chemical energy stored in their bodies, the smog will slow down or even stop the

1 © 2015 ATHENS EDUCATION growth of plants. This will undoubtedly affect the income of farmers who earn their living by growth these vegetations. Beside the loss in agricultural harvest, air pollution also threatens China’s tourism industry. In early 2014, it was estimated that the number of daily visitors to Beijing’s Forbidden City has dropped to only 25 per cent of the average figures in previous years.

35 [6] Not only does the smog damage the economy of China, it also put the population at great heath risk. A report by World Health Organization said that in 2012, 40 per cent of the seven millions people died of air pollution globally were from China. The report also revealed that air pollution caused more deaths in the world than road injuries, AIDS and diabetes combined. A lot of Chinese died of lung and respiratory tract 40 cancers because of the severe air pollution. For the first time, World Heath Organization list air pollution as a type of carcinogen. On March 2014, a study by Columbia University and Chongqing Medical University suggested that babies whose mothers were exposed to a Chinese coal-fired power plant had poorer learning and memory skills. 45 [7] The Chinese government has noticed the great impact of air pollutions and pledged change to the situation. Beijing published a plan to solve the air pollution problem by reducing coal consumption through closing polluting factories. They also imposed stricter regulation on the emission of gas residues in manufacturing places. The government also advised large companies to switch to more sustainable and eco- friendly power supply such as wind or solar energy. China’s Prime Minister Li Ke Qiang also declared that air pollution was a top priority for the government.

2 © 2015 ATHENS EDUCATION Weekly News Archive 1. Paragraph 1 is mainly about… A. the history of Beijing International Marathon. B. the participants of Beijing International Marathon. C. the air pollution problem in Beijing International Marathon. A B C D D. the amount of fine particles recommended by the World Health     Organization.

2. Find a phrase in paragraph 1 that is synonymous to ‘infamous’.

3. Why did many athletes in the Beijing Marathon wear masks during the competition?

4. Read paragraph 2 and decide if the following statements are True, False or the information is Not Given. Blacken ONE circle only for each statement. (5 marks)

F N T G i) On average, each athlete inhaled 16 times the amount of fine particles    recommended. ii) Most of the participants were satisfied with the competition.    iii Many athletes wore masks to prevent themselves from breathing in the toxic    ) air. iv) A few competitors decided to abandon the race.    v) The competition organizers were apologetic of the poor air quality   

5. In line 20, ‘tremendous’ means… A. small A B C D     B. steady C. occasional D. remarkable

6. Name three causes of the smog problem in China. Answer in full sentence.

7. How can trees help to make the city green?

9. What are the effects of air pollution on China’s economy? Answer in detail.

10. What is the best sub-heading for paragraph 5? A. Farmers are frustrated about air pollution B. The economic cost of air pollution in China C. The great decrease in number of tourists visiting Beijing’s A B C D Forbidden City     D. Together with tourism industry, China also relies on agriculture for its income

11. According to paragraph 6, why is air pollution more harmful than AIDS or diabetes?

12. What is the overall tone of the writer in this article? A. satirical A B C D B. melancholy     C. serious D. unsympathetic

13. Complete the following summary about the article. Use ONE word to fill in each blank.

Air pollution has (i) ______the reputation and international image of China in the 2014 Beijing International Marathon. A lot of athletes had no other (ii) ______but to withdraw from the event due to the (iii) ______smog.

In fact, air pollution problem has been a constant headache to government’s officials as it adversely (iv) ______the country’s economy and public’s (v) ______.

1. C 2. notorious (line 3) 3. To protect themselves from the harmful air/ smog. 4. i) NG ii) F (lines 10-11) iii) T iv) F (lines 10-11) v) NG 5. D 6. The three causes of the smog problem are gas emissions from factories and private cars, the lack of wind to disperse the air pollutants and deforestation. 7. The leaves in trees help absorb the toxic gases and release the clean gases into the atmosphere. 8. B 9. Air pollution causes great losses to China’s agriculture and tourism industry. It affects the income of farmers and reduces the number of tourists visiting the country. 10. B 11. Air pollution killed more people than AIDS and diabetes combined. 12. C 13. (i) damaged (ii) choice/ alternative (iii) harmful/ hazardous (iv) affects (v) health