Reading The air quality has worsened in the Chinese capital since Wednesday , causing renewed discontent among residents . Without rainfall and wind to decrease pollutants , particulate matter (颗粒物质) has been accumulating in the air . Most monitoring stations measured PM 10 ( particulate matter smaller than 10 micrograms ) at higher than 300 micrograms per cubic meter . In southwestern Beijing's Fangshan District , the Liangxiang station recorded 516 micrograms of PM 10 per cubic meter , the highest reading of the day , according to the Beijing Municipal Environmental Monitoring Center . More than 150 micrograms is considered harmful to health . Beijing has been covered by heavy smog off and on this winter , and the ongoing air concerns are wearing on residents , particularly as they prepare to celebrate the Spring Festival holiday next week . "I almost got choked by the smog when I stepped out of the office building on Wednesday , "said Yang Yanli , 24 , an accountant . "The smell is so terrible , as though I'm inhaling lots of coal , that it has spoiled my holiday mood . " Unlike the smog that hit mostly the southern part of the capital on January 1 , the smog in recent days has covered the entire city , according to the Beijing Environmental Protection Bureau . Worse yet , it will continue until Saturday , when the wind will pick up and blow it away , the bureau predicted . The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention suggests people stay at home to protect themselves from breathing and heart problems caused by heavy smog and people with breathing problems put off traveling if the smog stays . But many people said they had to brave the bad air to travel , especially migrants who are eager to reunite with their families during the Spring Festival . 1 . The underlined word"inhaling"in the third paragraph probably means_______ . A . coughing B . sneezing C . choking D . breathing in 2 . According to the passage , the highest reading about pollution is taken in____ . A . Southwestern Beijing 's Fangshan District B . Beijing Municipal Environmental Monitoring Center C . The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention D . Beijing Environmental Protection Bureau 3 . The smog weather is supposed to last until_________ . A . spring B . the Spring Festival C . Wednesday D . Saturday 4 . According to the passage , most monitoring stations in Beijing measured PM 10 at________this week . A . more than 150 micrograms per cubic meter B . 516 micrograms of PM 10 per cubic meter C . smaller than 10 micrograms per cubic meter D . higher than 300 micrograms per cubic meter