Beijing is to spend up to US $ 20 billion to change the Chinese capital into a 21st-centur

y one for the 2008 Olympics.

The government managed to host the 2008 games. The general aim is for Beijing to have the same environmental standards as Paris, London or Washington by 2008.

Hundreds of millions o1' dollars will be spent to pipe natural gas to the city's homes, taking away dirty coal burning gradually while 60,000 buses will be changed to liquefied gas.

The money will also be used for relocating the polluting factories and building green belts. By 2008 around 90 percent of Beijing's waste will be treated, compared to only 40 percent at present.

Olympic officials realize the city has a long way to go to match the environmental standards of such cities as Paris, Toronto, Istanbul and Osaka.

City officials have already announced that around 50 large projects are being dealt with to improve traffic congestion (拥挤)and cut down pollution. They include construction of Beijing's first light railway, a 40.5-kilometer line which is expected to be completed in 2005.

Beijing plans to build an 82.55-kilometer-long subway to add to existing 53 kilometers. Nine major roads will be rebuilt or widened.

Beijing also plans to build a 70-meter-wide green belt along the waterways to protect water quality as well as increase the green areas.

The government will pipe natural gas to the city's homes in order to ______.

A．solve the problem of being short of fuel

B．bring down the cost of daily life

C．reduce the pollution of our capital

D．keep up with the development of modern society