F2F Class Notes (Nemo)[R]

https://www.shine.cn/news/nation/1910173869/

Chinese authorities on Wednesday released an action plan for air pollution control in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and nearby areas, setting specific targets for the autumn and winter seasons.

The average density of PM2.5, fine particulate matter that causes smog, should drop 4 percent year on year from October 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020, according to the plan jointly released by several government agencies including the Ministry of Ecology and Environment.

The number of days with severe pollution should fall by 6 percent, said the plan.

Despite the improvement in air quality, the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and nearby areas still face a grim situation in autumn and winter, during which the PM2.5 density is usually double that in other seasons, according to the plan.

Due to the El Nino effect, weather conditions this year require stronger measures to offset the negative impacts, as 2020 is a crucial year for China to win the battle for blue skies, the plan stressed.

Among the mandatory targets listed for local regions, Hebei Province is required to cut 14 million tons of steel capacity, 3 million tons of coke capacity and 1 million tons of cement capacity.

The plan also called for accelerated adjustment of the energy structure by pushing clean heating and controlling coal consumption.

More effort should be made to improve emergency plans to cope with air pollution, step up monitoring and increase financing and policy support.

Vocabulary

ride (n): a machine in an amusement park that people travel in or are moved around by for entertainment
（游乐园里）供人乘坐的游乐装置
E.g.: We went on all the rides.
我们玩了游乐园里所有的装置。
E.g.: My favorite ride is the Ferris wheel.
我最爱坐摩天轮。

low (adj): unhappy
忧郁的，情绪低落的，消沉的
E.g.: Illness of any sort can leave you feeling low.
任何疾病都可能使人情绪低落。
E.g.: He seemed in low spirits.
他情绪似乎有些低落。

ecology (n): the relationships between the air, land, water, animals, plants, etc., usually of a particular area, or the scientific study of this
（通常指一个特定区域的）生态；生态学
E.g.: The oil spill caused terrible damage to the fragile ecology of the coast.
石油泄漏给脆弱的海岸生态环境带来严重的破坏。
E.g.: She hopes to study ecology at college.
她希望上大学读生态学。

density (n): the number of people or things in a place when compared with the size of the place
（人口等的）密度
E.g.: The area has a high/low population density.
该地区人口密度大／小。
E.g.: We were unable to move because of the density of the crowd.
人太多，我们根本就动不了。

cope (v): to deal successfully with a difficult situation
（成功地）对付，应付，处理
E.g.: It must be really hard to cope with three young children and a job.
要照顾3个小孩还要工作肯定不容易。
E.g.: It’s only been a year since he died – how’s she coping?
他过世刚一年时间——她的情况怎么样？
E.g.: He had so much pressure on him in his job that eventually he just couldn’t cope.
他工作压力太大，最后便扛不住了。

step up (v): to take action when there is a need or opportunity for it
在有需要（或有机会）时采取行动
E.g.: Investors have to step up and assume more responsibility for their assets.
投资者必须采取行动，为他们的投资承担更多责任。

capacity (n): the total amount that can be contained or produced, or (especially of a person or organization) the ability to do a particular thing
容积，容量；生产能力；（尤指某人或某组织的）办事能力
E.g.: The stadium has a seating capacity of 50,000.
这个体育场能容纳5万人。
E.g.: All our factories are working at (full) capacity (= are producing goods as fast as possible).
我们所有的工厂都在满负荷运行。
E.g.: We are running below capacity (= not producing as many goods as we are able to) because of cancelled orders.
因为订单取消，我们的工厂开工不足。