英语角-圆桌会议 RoundTable0327 - 公务员考试人数为何下降

 Topic1 Hangzhou clamps down on car platesEast China's Hangzhou city has begun restricting new car plates from Wednesday in a bid to reduce congestion¹ and combat air pollution.

Tuesday's announcement to implement² the policy came after several denials from the government over the past few months.

The move has enraged³ many local residents and caused panicking residents to stockpile vehicles during the last hours of Tuesday before the policy took effect on Wednesday.

Does Hangzhou need the car plate restriction⁴?

Topic2 Civil Servant Exam Cools Down?

Civil servant or public service worker has been one of the most popular jobs in China for decades due to its high stability, social status, perks⁵ and power.

However, during the 2014 local civil servant exams, the number of examinees greatly dropped.

How much of a drop are we talking about?

Topic3 Hidden Rules Still Exist in China's Driving SchoolsThere are still complaints of bribery⁶ despite rules prohibiting driving school trainers from asking their trainees⁷ for goodies including cigarettes and liquor.

China National Radio reports that a Mr. Wang from east China's Qingdao city says that his wife, who started her driving lessons last year, still hasn't passed the test for subject 3.

But in addition to paying an average fee of 4,200 yuan for the tuition fee, she had to pay another whopping 7,000 yuan as bribes⁸ to her trainees in an attempt to get an easier pass at drivers' tests.

Are Chinese driving schools really bad?

Topic4 Pricey tickets for performance venuesA recent survey finds out that average prices for performance venues⁹ in Beijing are four to eight times higher than the prices people expect.

The result might help explain why many of the Beijing public turn to the internet to satisfy their needs for arts and entertainment, which is basically free.

Are performance venues too expensive?

1 congestion   

n.阻塞，消化不良

参考例句：

• The congestion in the city gets even worse during the summer.夏天城市交通阻塞尤为严重。
• Parking near the school causes severe traffic congestion.在学校附近泊车会引起严重的交通堵塞。

2 implement   

n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行

参考例句：

• Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。
• The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。

3 enraged   

使暴怒( enrage的过去式和过去分词 )； 歜； 激愤

参考例句：

• I was enraged to find they had disobeyed my orders. 发现他们违抗了我的命令，我极为恼火。
• The judge was enraged and stroke the table for several times. 大法官被气得连连拍案。

4 restriction   

n.限制，约束

参考例句：

• The park is open to the public without restriction.这个公园对公众开放，没有任何限制。
• The 30 mph speed restriction applies in all built-up areas.每小时限速30英里适用于所有建筑物聚集区。

5 perks   

额外津贴，附带福利，外快( perk的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Perks offered by the firm include a car and free health insurance. 公司给予的额外待遇包括一辆汽车和免费健康保险。
• Are there any perks that go with your job? 你的工作有什么津贴吗？

6 bribery   

n.贿络行为，行贿，受贿

参考例句：

• FBI found out that the senator committed bribery.美国联邦调查局查明这个参议员有受贿行为。
• He was charged with bribery.他被指控受贿。

7 trainees   

新兵( trainee的名词复数 )； 练习生； 接受训练的人； 训练中的动物

参考例句：

• We've taken on our full complement of new trainees. 我们招收的新学员已经满额了。
• The trainees were put through an assault course. 受训人员接受了突击训练课程。

8 bribes   

n.贿赂( bribe的名词复数 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂v.贿赂( bribe的第三人称单数 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• corrupt officials accepting bribes 接受贿赂的贪官污吏

9 venues   

n.聚集地点( venue的名词复数 )；会场；（尤指）体育比赛场所；犯罪地点

参考例句：

• The band will be playing at 20 different venues on their UK tour. 这个乐队在英国巡回演出期间将在20个不同的地点演出。
• Farmers market corner, 800 meters long, 60 meters wide livestock trading venues. 农牧市场东北角，有长800米，宽60米的牲畜交易场地。 来自互联网