ENVIRONMENT REPORT - Conditions in China

By Cynthia Kirk
ENVIRONMENT REPORT -July 5, 2002: Conditions in China

This is the VOA Special English ENVIRONMENT REPORT.

Environmental officials in China say the government has taken steps to reduce
pollution in the country. However, they say there are still serious environmental
problems. The country is dealing¹ with water and air pollution, land destruction and
technological² waste.

The State Environmental Protection Administration has released its yearly report
about the condition of China’s environment. The report says the government will
invest about eighty-five -thousand-million dollars in a clean-up campaign during the
next ten years.

Zhu Guangyao is vice³ minister of China’s environmental protection agency. He says water pollution is one of
the most serious problems. Mister Zhu says all seven of the country’s major river systems and several major
lakes are polluted with poisonous chemicals and other waste. Rivers near cities are the most severely⁴ affected⁵.

Mister Zhu says acid rain containing harmful sulfur⁶ dioxide falls over ninety percent of the cities in southern and
eastern China. Acid rain is caused by industrial pollution. It affects one-third of the country.

The report says two -thirds of Chinese cities have unacceptable levels of air pollution. Mister Zhu notes that some
cities, such as Beijing, have improved their air. He says this improvement is partly a result of the city reducing its
dependence⁷ on burning coal for energy. Beijing is getting more of its energy from natural gas and water power.

Mister Zhu says China is also fighting land destruction, which is ruining two-million hectares of grassland⁸ a year.
He says ninety percent of China ’s natural grasslands⁹ have been damaged. One-hundred-thirty-five hectares of
land have become desert areas.

Mister Zhu says a lack of water and strong winds are the main reasons why these areas have become deserts. But
he says the activities of people make the problem much worse. These include cutting down too many trees,
having too many animals eating grasses and wasting water.

China is also dealing with a new environmental threat from illegal imports of old computers and other
technological waste. Officials say such waste releases dangerous chemicals into the air and water. Environmental
officials say China is taking steps to stop these illegal imports which they say come mostly from the United
States.

This VOA Special English ENVIRONMENT REPORT was written by Cynthia Kirk.

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1 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

2 technological   

adj.技术的；工艺的

参考例句：

• A successful company must keep up with the pace of technological change.一家成功的公司必须得跟上技术变革的步伐。
• Today,the pace of life is increasing with technological advancements.当今， 随着科技进步，生活节奏不断增快。

3 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

4 severely   

adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地

参考例句：

• He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
• He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。

5 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

6 sulfur   

n.硫，硫磺（=sulphur）

参考例句：

• Sulfur emissions from steel mills become acid rain.炼钢厂排放出的硫形成了酸雨。
• Burning may produce sulfur oxides.燃烧可能会产生硫氧化物。

7 dependence   

n.依靠，依赖；信任，信赖；隶属

参考例句：

• Doctors keep trying to break her dependence of the drug.医生们尽力使她戒除毒瘾。
• He was freed from financial dependence on his parents.他在经济上摆脱了对父母的依赖。

8 grassland   

n.牧场，草地，草原

参考例句：

• There is a reach of grassland in the distance.远处是连绵一片的草原。
• The snowstorm swept the vast expanse of grassland.暴风雪袭击了辽阔的草原。

9 grasslands   

n.草原，牧场( grassland的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Songs were heard ringing loud and clear over the grasslands. 草原上扬起清亮激越的歌声。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Grasslands have been broken and planted to wheat. 草原已经开垦出来，种上了小麦。 来自《简明英汉词典》