雾霾与蓝天 Smog and Blue Sky

五年前wǔ nián qián，中国Zhōngguó很多hěn duō城市chéngshì的de天tiān很少hěn shǎo是shì蓝色lánsè的de，到处dàochù都dōu是shì雾霾wùmái。

Five years ago, the sky in many Chinese cities was rarely blue — smog was everywhere.

那时候nà shíhou，一yí到dào冬天dōngtiān，空气kōngqì就jiù变得biàn de更gèng差chà，很多hěn duō人rén不敢bù gǎn出门chūmén运动yùndòng。

At that time, as soon as winter arrived, the air would get worse, and many people didn't dare go out to exercise.

出门chūmén的时候de shíhou，大家dàjiā还hái要yào戴上dài shang口罩kǒuzhào，怕pà吸进xī jìn不好bù hǎo的de空气kōngqì。

When going out, everyone also had to wear a face mask, afraid of breathing in bad air.

最近zuìjìn几年jǐ nián，情况qíngkuàng变得biàn de好多了hǎo duō le。

In recent years, the situation has gotten much better.

政府zhèngfǔ关闭guānbì了le一些yìxiē污染wūrǎn严重yánzhòng的de工厂gōngchǎng，也yě让ràng大家dàjiā多duō坐zuò公共交通gōnggòng jiāotōng，少shǎo开车kāichē。

The government shut down some factories with serious pollution, and also encouraged everyone to take public transportation more and drive less.

现在xiànzài，很多hěn duō城市chéngshì每年měi nián能néng看到kàndào蓝天lántiān的de日子rìzi越来越yuè lái yuè多duō。

Now, in many cities, the number of days each year with blue sky keeps increasing.

我wǒ还hái记得jìde小时候xiǎo shíhou，妈妈māma总是zǒngshì让ràng我wǒ戴上dài shang口罩kǒuzhào才cái能néng出去chūqù玩儿wánr，现在xiànzài这样zhèyàng的de日子rìzi已经yǐjīng很hěn少shǎo了le。

I still remember, when I was small, my mom always made me put on a mask before I could go out and play — now, days like that are already rare.

蓝天lántiān变多biàn duō了le，这zhè说明shuōmíng只要zhǐyào大家dàjiā一起yìqǐ努力nǔlì，环境huánjìng就jiù可以kěyǐ变好biàn hǎo。

There are more blue-sky days now, which shows that as long as everyone works hard together, the environment can improve.

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Key words 生词

雾霾wùmáismog; haze

口罩kǒuzhàoface mask

污染wūrǎnpollution

政府zhèngfǔgovernment

环境huánjìngenvironment

严重yánzhòngserious

一……就…… — As soon as... then...

Describes that action B happens immediately after action A takes place: 一到冬天，空气就变得更差。

一到冬天，空气就变得更差。— As soon as winter arrived, the air would get worse.

越来越…… — More and more

Placed before an adjective or verb to show a quality or state increasing over time.

看到蓝天的日子越来越多。— The days you can see blue sky keep increasing.

只要……就…… — As long as... then...

States a sufficient condition: if A happens, B will follow.

只要大家一起努力，环境就可以变好。— As long as everyone works hard together, the environment can improve.

1. Five years ago, what was often seen in the sky of many Chinese cities?

2. What did the government do to help improve air quality?

3. What does the author say about wearing masks now compared to childhood?

After this reading

I'm Fei, and I teach Mandarin one-on-one on Preply. Bring this text to a trial lesson — we'll fix your tones and turn it into a real conversation.