I. State what the article was about. What is the main point of the article?
The article “Beijing Car Ban Improves Air Quality” tackles the effect on the city’s air quality of a trial traffic ban in Beijing, China. The author Anita Chang wanted to highlight the fact that despite high humidity that barred the visibility of the improvement, Beijing’s air quality improved in the four days that the traffic ban was in place, with the air pollution index seesawing up and down between 93 and 95.
II. Give your reaction to the article.
I think that it is admirable that Beijing and its citizens are taking efforts towards lowering down their air pollution index. Given that vehicles contribute a lot to air pollution, a step on minimizing vehicles on streets is definitely a smart move. It was just sad that China’s capital had to wait for a major event like the Olympics to start aiming for a better air quality; they should have done so the moment they noticed that the city air is becoming polluted. I wish these efforts won’t cease when Olympics 2008 has already taken place but instead continue even without the popular sports event.
III. Did you agree of disagreeing?
I agree with Beijing’s plan of action and believe that a continued implementation will make a remarkable change in the city’s air pollution situation.
IV. Why do you agree or disagree?
Admittedly, there are still a lot of things to be done to completely eliminate Beijing’s air pollution problem, but starting with something small is already a good step. Continued implementation of the traffic ban – with or without the Olympics – can do wonders for the city’s air pollution situation.