英语角-圆桌会议 RoundTable0401 - 打击新闻敲诈

 Topic1 Cracking Down on Fake Journalists and News ExtortionNow the government intends to root out a "disease" which is plaguing the China's news industry: extortion and so-called fake news.

There will be a nationwide crackdown on such activity.

Is such a campaign necessary?

Topic2 New police unit mulled to handle food safety crimesChina is mulling over setting up a task force with tougher powers to investigate cases of tainted¹ food and counterfeit² drugs.

Hua Jingfeng, an official at the Ministry³ of Public Security, told a food safety forum⁴ that harsh punishments would be handed down to those who violate food and drug safety laws.

Chinese media speculated that a food and drug safety police division could be established.

Is there a crisis?

Topic3 Shoppers soured on powder schemeChinese consumers have shown little interest in buying baby formula in pharmacies⁵ since a pilot program allowed such retailers⁶ to do so five months ago.

In fact, a Beijing Youth Daily report says that some local pharmacies have only sold four or five cans of milk powder per month since the program began.

Why was the policy there in the first place?

Topic4 BMW Vocational SchoolIn a vocational school in Changsha, two dozens students obviously enjoy nicer infrastructure⁷ and treatment than others. This is because BMW is cooperating with the school to train future employees for it.

How is the cooperation like?

Topic5 Left over woman to have baby via artificial inseminationA single woman in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, has become pregnant through artificial insemination. After two failed relationships, in one of which she found her fiancée's betrayal just before their wedding, 33 year old Nuo Qin decided⁸ to have a baby without a husband.

This is obviously a single case, but is there a real need for this?

Topic6 Leasing Male Teachers to KindergartensFor kindergartens in the country, not having enough male teachers has been a problem for years.

This is why Zhengzhou now has some temp agencies that "lend" male teachers to kindergartens.

Is this a good idea? 

1 tainted   

adj.腐坏的；污染的；沾污的；感染的v.使变质( taint的过去式和过去分词 )；使污染；败坏；被污染，腐坏，败坏

参考例句：

• The administration was tainted with scandal. 丑闻使得政府声名狼藉。
• He was considered tainted by association with the corrupt regime. 他因与腐败政府有牵连而名誉受损。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 counterfeit   

vt.伪造，仿造；adj.伪造的，假冒的

参考例句：

• It is a crime to counterfeit money.伪造货币是犯罪行为。
• The painting looked old but was a recent counterfeit.这幅画看上去年代久远，实际是最近的一幅赝品。

3 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

4 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

5 pharmacies   

药店

参考例句：

• Still, 32 percent of the pharmacies filled the prescriptions. 但仍然有32%的药剂师配发了这两张药方。 来自互联网
• Chinese herbal pharmacies, and traditional massage therapists in the Vancouver telephone book. 中药店，和传统的按摩师在温哥华的电话簿里。 来自互联网

6 retailers   

零售商，零售店( retailer的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• High street retailers reported a marked increase in sales before Christmas. 商业街的零售商报告说圣诞节前销售量显著提高。
• Retailers have a statutory duty to provide goods suitable for their purpose. 零售商有为他们提供符合要求的货品的法定义务。

7 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

8 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。