英语角-圆桌会议 RoundTable1016 - 中学攀“诺奖女婿”是个事儿吗？

 Topic1 "Congratulations to the son-in law of our school!"A middle school in An'hui Province posted some brief words of congratulation in their campus to Eric Betzig, the American scientist who won the 2014 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, and called him "the son-in-law of our school" in the letter, just because Betzig's wife Gina was graduated from this middle school.

Should such a behavior be frowned upon?

Topic2 PKU Student Jailed for StealingRecently, a postgraduate¹ student in Peking University is sentenced 2 years and a half for burglary. From 2012 to 2013, he stole more than 100 items in the campus.

As a matter of fact, theft is very common in colleges, and most of these crimes are committed by students. Why is that?

Topic3 Villagers get fined for lavish² banquetsThe government's frugality³ campaign is going grassroots.

Two villagers in a central Chinese village have been fined 2,000 yuan per person for hosting banquets that are considered to be "lavish".

They reportedly violated village rules that set ceilings on cigarettes and liquor consumption by offering guests with cigarettes worth of 18 yuan per packet and liquor of 36 yuan per bottle.

Interesting rules! What are they for?

Topic4 China tightens⁴ grip on health-related TV programsChina's top broadcast watchdog has tightened⁵ control over production of health-related TV programs, a move it says will provide viewers with better, more scientific health information.

The State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television issued a circular on Tuesday saying such programs can only be produced by TV station personnel. The regulator also banned all advertisements during such programs.

Should we be concerned?

Topic5 Seat belt fines not enough to change bad habits, experts sayThe Beijing Traffic Management Bureau says it will impose fines of 50 yuan ($8) for drivers and 20 yuan for passengers who do not use their seat belts.

Drivers who don't buckle⁶ up on highways and freeways will also receive a two-point deduction⁷ on their annual 12-point driving record.

Transportation experts say softer but more persuasive⁸ measures, rather than harsh fines, will encourage drivers to use their seat belts.

Is the crackdown necessary?

Topic6 No Parking In Hospital GroundRecently, a hospital in Xiamen closes its parking lots to patients and visitors. The move aims to eliminate potential safety hazard for patients who have problems in walking.

Does this make sense?

1 postgraduate   

adj.大学毕业后的，大学研究院的；n.研究生

参考例句：

• I didn't put down that I had postgraduate degree.我没有写上我有硕士学位。
• After college,Mary hopes to do postgraduate work in law school.大学毕业后， 玛丽想在法学院从事研究工作。

2 lavish   

adj.无节制的；浪费的；vt.慷慨地给予，挥霍

参考例句：

• He despised people who were lavish with their praises.他看不起那些阿谀奉承的人。
• The sets and costumes are lavish.布景和服装极尽奢华。

3 frugality   

n.节约，节俭

参考例句：

• We must build up our country with industry and frugality.我们必须勤俭建国。
• By frugality she managed to get along on her small salary.凭着节俭，她设法以自己微薄的薪水生活。

4 tightens   

收紧( tighten的第三人称单数 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧

参考例句：

• One set of provisions tightens emission standards. 一套使排放标准更加严格的规定。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法
• Requires no special tools or fittings; hand tightens to relief valve outlet. 不需要专用工具或管件；用手将其紧固到安全阀上即可。

5 tightened   

收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧

参考例句：

• The rope holding the boat suddenly tightened and broke. 系船的绳子突然绷断了。
• His index finger tightened on the trigger but then relaxed again. 他的食指扣住扳机，然后又松开了。

6 buckle   

n.扣子，带扣；v.把...扣住，由于压力而弯曲

参考例句：

• The two ends buckle at the back.带子两端在背后扣起来。
• She found it hard to buckle down.她很难专心做一件事情。

7 deduction   

n.减除，扣除，减除额；推论，推理，演绎

参考例句：

• No deduction in pay is made for absence due to illness.因病请假不扣工资。
• His deduction led him to the correct conclusion.他的推断使他得出正确的结论。

8 persuasive   

adj.有说服力的，能说得使人相信的

参考例句：

• His arguments in favour of a new school are very persuasive.他赞成办一座新学校的理由很有说服力。
• The evidence was not really persuasive enough.证据并不是太有说服力。