Read the news article below
Write a summary about what caused the high levels of pollution, AND how the city managed to
improve living conditions.
Your summary should be about 100 words long (and no more than 120 words long). You should
use your own words as far as possible.
You will receive up to 6 marks for the content of your summary and up to 5 marks for the style and
accuracy of your language.
Until recently, the long hot summers in Rajshahi used to be made a lot worse for the locals, because
they had to keep their windows shut - not because of the wind or monsoon rains, but because of
the poor air quality.
Dust from the roads all around the city was one of the main contributors. That, and the smoke and
chemicals produced by the brick-making industry, made Rajshahi one of the world's most polluted
cities. However, Rajshahi has managed to improve things so dramatically that the cíty has made
the headlines. According to United Nations data, the Bangladeshi city did more than any other city
in the world to get rid of these air particles that cause pollution and are so bad for human health.
Most of the inhabitants are too poor to own cars, which normally cause air pollution in many
other cities. Instead, it was the effort made to clean up the city's brick kilns, where the bricks are
baked, that was partly to thank for the achievement. Levels of the larger air particles went from
195 micrograms per cubic metre in 2014 to 63.9 in 2016, a reduction of about two-thirds. Levels of
the smaller air particles were nearly halved from 70 to 37 micrograms per cubic metre, the second
highest reduction of any city in the world.
Many of the city's inhabitants remember having to close windows and doors to stop a thin layer of dirt
appearing on every surface in their house. Even today, with air quality dramatically improved, there
is still so much dust in the air that city officials are unable to go ahead with the idea of introducing
solar panels. They fear that dust will settle on the panels and prevent them from generating power
within weeks. Nevertheless, air quality has been transformed. One reason for this is that there is
a "zero-soil' programme in the city, which means that no part of the ground should be bare earth.
Instead, to reduce the amount of dust kicked up by people and vehicles, the city has been made
greener by planting grass, flowers and trees wherever possible.
City officials began looking at transport in 2004, when they imported many battery-powered
rickshaws from China. These three-wheeled vehicles are the main form of public transport, and
their batteries keep the air clean. There was also a ban on large lorries from the city centre, which
added to the improvement of air quality, keeping the air free of petrol and diesel fumes.
One city official became convinced that the city needed more pavements, after looking into urban
planning in other countries. Previously, the sides of most city roadss were dusty and broken, making
them dangerous and unappealing to walk along. So far, 15 kilometres of pavements have been
added, and there are plans for more. Apart from encouraging a healthier lifestyle, the pavements
help to control the dust in the air. There are also plans to introduce cycle lanes in the future,
although the high temperatures in the summer mean that this mode of transport may not be the
most popular.
People are now proud of their city, and have started looking after it more. One resident, who spent
over ten years working in Europe, reported how much it had changed. "I was worried l'd find it hard
to live here after so much time abroad. But I came back to find the city has been transformed."
Answers
Answer:
There are many small, but critical sources of air pollution in our homes and neighborhoods. Such sources — vehicles, construction equipment, lawn mowers, dry cleaners, backyard fires, and auto-body shops — are located where we live and work. Total emissions from these smaller but widespread sources are significantly greater than all the industrial sources in the state combined.
To prevent pollution from these sources, the MPCA provides education, guidance, and incentives for reducing air pollution. We have programs for businesses, cities, nonprofits, and communities that address a range of environmental problems, including air quality.
Drive your car less. Vehicle exhaust is a major source of air pollution in Minnesota. Carpool. Bike. Bus. Telecommute. Electric vehicles. How could you burn less fuel?
Keep your car in good repair. Fix exhaust and oxygen sensor problems ASAP. Check tire pressure monthly.
Turn off your engine. An idling engine creates a hot spot of pollution. Buses and big trucks produce particularly unhealthy exhaust. Parents and teachers can help their schools and daycares develop and implement no-idling policies. MPCA has resources to get started.
Don't burn your garbage. Burning your household garbage is dangerous to your health and our environment, and generally against the law in Minnesota. If you're still using a burn barrel, wood stove, or fire-pit for your trash, it's time for a change. Learn what you can do.
Stop having campfires in the city. Smoky areas resulting from campfires in the city can cause unhealthy conditions for hundreds of people, especially during stagnant weather conditions. Since cities have elevated levels of pollution compared to Greater Minnesota already, please limit the number of campfires you start in urban locations. If you do have a campfire:
Keep campfires brief and small--3 feet across or less.
Burn only dry fire wood. In the Twin Cities it is illegal to burn any waste in a fire, even yard waste.
Never start campfires during an air quality alert. You can receive texts or emails when air pollution alerts are in effect.
Plant and care for trees. Trees filter pollutants and absorb carbon dioxide. Trees also release oxygen into the atmosphere and help cool our homes. Learn more about the benefits of trees.
Switch to electric or hand-powered lawn equipment. Gas-powered engines like those on lawnmowers and leaf or snow blowers often lack pollution control devices. An hour running a lawn mower can produce nearly the same amount of pollution as a 100-mile car trip! Use hand-powered or electric lawn care equipment instead.
Use less energy. Choose efficient appliances and heating systems. Get an energy audit and follow the advice. Turn off electrical stuff you are not using. It all adds up.
Check your home for radon. Radon is a colorless, odorless radioactive gas that seeps into your house from the soil. Get more information about radon and home testing kits from The Minnesota Department of Health.
Become a champion for clean air. Direct local businesses, city offices, and school districts toward the programs available to them (see below); report any concerns you encounter; and share your reasons for doing the things you do with those around you
Explanation:
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