The Coronavirus

and Pollution, 1

 
 
 

Vocabulary

air	lockdown	private (3)
amid	identify	fall/fell/fallen (2)
quality	reduction	unprecedented
focus	public (2)	particulate
lung	deep (2)	substantial
level (3)	round (2)	witness (2)
virus	matter (3)	particle (2)
crisis	pollution	see/saw/seen
dropa	coincide	find/found/found (2)
Earth	stretch (2)	anniversary
breathe	on record	lead/led/lead
	estimated	cost/cost/cost

 
 
 
 
 

Video

 

 
 
 
 

Transcript

Air pollution has fallen in global cites amid coronavirus lockdowns, a study shows.

Some have shown unprecedented reduction of particulate matter known as PM2.5 levels, by up to 60% from 2019. PM2.5 are particles so small, they can be breathed deep into a person’s lungs.

New Delhi, one of the world’s most polluted cities, witnessed the most substantial drop.

Wuhan, China, where the virus was first identified, experienced its cleanest February and March air quality on record.

Los Angeles saw its longest stretch of clean air on record.

Lockdowns in London and Madrid lead to reductions in PM2.5 levels of around 10%.

The findings coincide with the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, which this year focuses on climate action.

Air pollution is global public health crisis, costing the lives of an estimated seven million people each year.

 

 

Questions

1. Air pollution is always increasing. Air pollution is always getting worse. Is this entirely true, mostly true, partially true, in the middle, sometimes, largely untrue or completely false?

2. Is this based entirely on anecdotal evidence or visual inspection?

3. Why has there been a reduction in air pollution?

4. Air pollution is not serious; it only cause people to cough. Is this right or wrong?

5. Has reduced air pollution only been recorded in New York City and London?

6. Can air pollution be lethal or fatal?

7. They video mentioned a coincidence. Is this correct or incorrect?

 

A. How might environmentalists and nature lovers feel about the covid-19 epidemic?

B. Describe the air quality in your town, city or region. Do people complain about it?

C. Why is there (so much) air pollution?

D. What might happen in the future?

E. What should people do about air pollution?