单选题
Read carefully the following excerpt on smog subsidy, and then write your response in NO LESS THAN 200 WORDS, in which you should:
● summarize the main message of the excerpt, and then
● comment on whether there should be smog subsidy for employees who have to work on smoggy days
Your should support yourself with information from the excerpt.
Marks will be awarded for content relevance, content sufficiency, organization and language quality. Failure to follow the above instruction may result in a loss of marks.
Smog subsidy for employees who work outdoors
Severe air pollution and smog continues to haunt many Chinese cities, especially in northern and central China. As people grow more aware of health issues, there have been increasing calls for a special 'smog subsidy'(雾霾津贴) for employees who have to work on smoggy days.
Xie Chaohua, a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), called for the introduction of a 'smog subsidy' for those who work outdoors. Xie said at the CPPCC session that the key to his proposal is 'protecting lungs from the impact of smog.' The government should protect the public's right to breathe clean air, and a 'smog subsidy' should be introduced for outdoor workers such as construction workers, sanitation workers, traffic police officers and couriers. With the subsidy, government can take the initiative to purchase health products such as lung-moistening medicines for those who bear the brunt of smoggy weather. In addition to the subsidy, Xie also called for the introduction of a 'smog holiday' system for people who work outdoors.
The Trade Union in Zhengzhou City, capital of Central China's Henan Province, has surveyed nearly 400 subscribers to its official WeChat account recently. The survey found that 95% of respondents support a 'smog subsidy' for those who work outdoors. The survey also found that 88% of nearly 400 respondents said priority should be given to outdoor workers on smoggy days. However, 9% of respondents said air pollution affects everyone so it would be unfair to only address the concerns of people who work outdoors.
【正确答案】[作文参考范文] Smog Subsidy for Employees Who Work Outdoors With people's concerns over air pollution mounting, the issue of whether workers who have to perform their duties outdoors in smoggy days should receive an extra pay, the so-called 'smog subsidy', has been put on the agenda of public debate. Smog subsidy was proposed by Xie Chaohua, a member of CPPCC, who argued that government should make all-out efforts to protect the public's rights to breathe clean air and make up for their sacrifice financially. He even appealed for a 'smog holiday' system for those who work outdoors. The survey conducted by the Trade Union in Zhengzhou City showed that 95% of respondents supported it with only 9% protesting that it would be unfair to only address the concerns of people who work outdoors. From my perspective, smog subsidy for employees who work outdoors is a feasible way to help those who have to expose themselves to work in the filthy air. There is no quick solution to China's air pollution problem, so something must be done to address the severe impact on people's health, especially for outdoor workers. As we know, there are many essential functions that must be performed by workers, even on smoggy days. Therefore, a smog subsidy would be a fair compensation for their sacrifice. Moreover, workers who face the greatest threat from air pollution, like street cleaners and highway repairmen, should receive subsidies as soon as possible. Their health is already in danger, and both the government and the employers have the responsibility to protect them. To sum up, smog subsidy is beneficial to employees who work outdoors. However, it is surely not the best option and more efforts should be made to ease the environmental pressure and solve the air pollution problem in China.
【答案解析】