英语角-圆桌会议 RoundTable0121 - 办公室午睡之文化差异

 Topic1 China's GDP Growth Slowest in 2013China's economy grew at a faster pace last year than the government's official target, yet still experiencing the slowest expansion in more than a decade.

China's gross domestic product grew by 7.7% in 2013 over the previous year, according to China's National Bureau of Statistics, a performance that was better than a 7.5% forecast.

Are we slowing down?

Topic2 Beijing will invest 760 billion yuan against smogBeijing Mayor Wang Anshun said at a group meeting that the municipal government signed an agreement with the central government in 2013, promising¹ to improve air quality by 2017.

The city will dedicate 760 billion yuan ($125.63 billion) to cope with heavy smog. The Mayor said it would be well worth to spend even up to 1 trillion yuan in exchange for blue sky, clear water and green ground in Beijing by 2017. Wang said: "If we can't make the target by that time, top leaders joke that heads will roll."Is this about money? Can such a big sum of money ensure that air quality is improved?

Topic3 Nap Habits East and WestIf you ask a Chinese who works in a US company that what he feels most unaccustomed to in the company, the answer you'll probably get is neither cultural shock or language, but that there is no place to take a nap.

Is it true that Chinese is the only people that like to take a nap in the office?

Topic4 China Reveals Own Mobile Operating SystemUnhappy with the dominance of foreign mobile and desktop² operating systems in its country, the Chinese government is backing a China Operating System (COS) that is supposed to take on Google, Apple and Microsoft in the region.

Shanghai Liantong is the company developing COS in partnership³ with the Institute of Software at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (ISCAS).

Is it necessary for China to develop its own operating system?

Topic5 Excess of female teachers puts pupils at risk of gender⁴ identity disorder⁵?

Some members of the political advisory⁶ body in the eastern city Nanjing say pupils taught by female teachers in primary schools are more likely to become "feminine boys and macho girls".

Members of Nanjing's Political Consultative Conference submitted a proposal calling for more male teachers in primary and secondary schools.

Putting aside whether more male teachers are needed, is it a valid⁷ concern that too many female teachers will produce feminine men and manly⁸ women?

Topic6 Parents Stay Up to Sign Kids Up to Children's PalaceOn the 1st day of recruitment, Beijing Children's Palace, the equivalent to a part-time art and science school for youth, sees a spectacular view as thousands of parents queuing to get their children enrolled⁹ rushed in, breaking the gate apart.

1 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

2 desktop   

n.桌面管理系统程序；台式

参考例句：

• My computer is a desktop computer of excellent quality.我的计算机是品质卓越的台式计算机。
• Do you know which one is better,a laptop or a desktop?你知道哪一种更好，笔记本还是台式机？

3 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

4 gender   

n.（生理上的）性，（名词、代词等的）性

参考例句：

• French differs from English in having gender for all nouns.法语不同于英语，所有的名词都有性。
• Women are sometimes denied opportunities solely because of their gender.妇女有时仅仅因为性别而无法获得种种机会。

5 disorder   

n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调

参考例句：

• When returning back,he discovered the room to be in disorder.回家后，他发现屋子里乱七八糟。
• It contained a vast number of letters in great disorder.里面七零八落地装着许多信件。

6 advisory   

adj.劝告的，忠告的，顾问的，提供咨询

参考例句：

• I have worked in an advisory capacity with many hospitals.我曾在多家医院做过顾问工作。
• He was appointed to the advisory committee last month.他上个月获任命为顾问委员会委员。

7 valid   

adj.有确实根据的；有效的；正当的，合法的

参考例句：

• His claim to own the house is valid.他主张对此屋的所有权有效。
• Do you have valid reasons for your absence?你的缺席有正当理由吗？

8 manly   

adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地

参考例句：

• The boy walked with a confident manly stride.这男孩以自信的男人步伐行走。
• He set himself manly tasks and expected others to follow his example.他给自己定下了男子汉的任务，并希望别人效之。

9 enrolled   

adj.入学登记了的v.[亦作enrol]( enroll的过去式和过去分词 )；登记，招收，使入伍（或入会、入学等），参加，成为成员；记入名册；卷起，包起

参考例句：

• They have been studying hard from the moment they enrolled. 从入学时起，他们就一直努力学习。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He enrolled with an employment agency for a teaching position. 他在职业介绍所登了记以谋求一个教师的职位。 来自《简明英汉词典》