A Chinese podcast · Same story, 4 levels
环保局减少了执法
US EPA Cuts Enforcement — Fewer Fines, Slower Cases and More Pollution Risk
About this story
The US EPA hands out fewer fines and lets pollution cases pile up, raising health risks across communities. HSK 2 Chinese listening practice.
This is an HSK 2 Chinese listening episode that runs about 1 minute. The full Mandarin script is shown with tap-for-pinyin and a line-by-line English translation, so you can listen and read at once — comprehensible input in the sense of Stephen Krashen's i+1 theory. It teaches 10 key vocabulary words such as 为什么、公司、问题 and walks through 4 grammar patterns, each explained in English with examples. The same news story is retold at 4 difficulty levels — use the level selector above to find the version that is challenging but still understandable for you.
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原文Read the complete story in Chinese. Reveal pinyin and English only when you need them.
English transcript reference
Hello everyone.
Welcome to our podcast.
Today we're talking about the environment.
And an important topic.
That is pollution and the law.
This is related to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The United States has an Environmental Protection Agency.
Its job is to protect the environment.
It used to sue many companies.
Especially those companies that pollute.
But now things have changed.
New reports tell us.
There are very few cases now.
Much fewer than before.
Next, we need to ask why.
Why have the cases decreased?
This is a new policy.
It's called the "compliance first" policy.
It means don't impose fines first.
Work with the companies first instead.
Also, many lawyers have left.
The EPA doesn't have enough staff.
Finally, let's look at the consequences.
Is this good for people or not?
Experts say this is very dangerous.
Companies might dump pollutants recklessly.
The air and water will become dirty.
This will harm people's health.
If there are no police to enforce the rules.
Bad things will increase.
This is a big problem.
We need to pay attention to the environment.
Thank you all for listening.
See you next time.
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What vocabulary does this episode teach?
词汇Noun. The government department responsible for environmental protection. Measure word: 个 (gè).
Noun or Verb. Contamination of the environment. Common phrase: 空气污染 (air pollution).
Verb. To keep safe from harm. Common phrase: 保护环境 (protect the environment).
Noun. A legal matter or lawsuit. Measure word: 个 (gè) or 件 (jiàn).
Noun. A plan or course of action by a government. Measure word: 个 (gè).
HSK 1-2. why.
HSK 1-2. company.
HSK 1-2. problem / question.
HSK 1-2. meaning / interest.
HSK 1-2. to tell.
What grammar patterns appear in this episode?
语法Used to compare two things. It means 'A is more [adjective] than B'.
比以前少了很多 (Much less than before)
A conditional structure meaning 'If [condition], then [result]'.
如果没有警察管，坏事就会变多 (If no police to manage, bad things will increase)
Indicates a future possibility or something that is likely to happen.
公司可能会乱排污 (Companies might pollute randomly)
空气和水会变脏 (Air and water will become dirty)
Contrasting the past with the present.
以前它会告很多公司...但是现在情况变了 (Before it sued many companies... but now the situation changed)
Proper Nouns
专有名词Sources
来源Free account
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