英语角-圆桌会议 RoundTable1118 - 为老外拦车点赞

 Topic1 Shanghai adults better at English than their Hong Kong counterpartsThree major cities on the Chinese mainland have outpaced Hong Kong for the first time in this year's English proficiency¹ index or EPI, published by English First (EF), a global language training company.

Shanghai, Beijing and Tianjin saw scores of 53.75, 52.86 and 52.73, respectively in contrast to Hong Kong's 52.50, whose ranking fell from 22nd last year to 31st this year among 63 non-english-speaking countries and regions in the index published last week.

Is it possible that this is true? Why is it hard to believe?

Topic2 Laowai Stops Car in Bike LaneRecently, a Laowai blocked a car driving in the bike lane on the street in Beijing. He stopped his bike in front of the car, made a "turn back" gesture and asked the car to leave the bike lane immediately, and waited until the car backed out of the lane.

What can we tell from netizens' reaction?

Topic3 Central Heating for The North Not SouthFor northerners in China, Nov 15th is a big day as that is when the central heating plants are fired up. However, residents in the south have no such treatment and the only thing they can do is to put more clothes on.

Recently, Los Angeles Times publishes an article, saying the north-south divide at Qin-Huai line is way too outdated².

Why did we have such a line?

Topic4 Apple Links UnionPayApp Store customers in China can now link their UnionPay debit³ or credit cards to their Apple IDs for purchases.

Will the electronic maker⁴ see a purchase surge in its app store?

Topic5 "Campus Love Public Class" in Nanjing UniversityThe Graduate Student Union of Nanjing University is holding a five-week "Campus Love Public Class". The session mainly targets graduate students, PhD students, and senior undergraduates in Nanjing University, and aims to help those singles solve relationship problems.

This isn't the first relationship training class held in Chinese universities, nor will it be the last. Why are such classes in college so popular?

1 proficiency   

n.精通，熟练，精练

参考例句：

• He plied his trade and gained proficiency in it.他勤习手艺，技术渐渐达到了十分娴熟的地步。
• How do you think of your proficiency in written and spoken English?你认为你的书面英语和口语熟练程度如何？

2 outdated   

adj.旧式的，落伍的，过时的；v.使过时

参考例句：

• That list of addresses is outdated,many have changed.那个通讯录已经没用了，许多地址已经改了。
• Many of us conform to the outdated customs laid down by our forebears.我们许多人都遵循祖先立下的过时习俗。

3 debit   

n.借方，借项，记人借方的款项

参考例句：

• To whom shall I debit this sum?此款应记入谁的账户的借方？
• We undercharge Mr.Smith and have to send him a debit note for the extra amount.我们少收了史密斯先生的钱，只得给他寄去一张借条所要欠款。

4 maker   

n.制造者，制造商

参考例句：

• He is a trouble maker，You must be distant with him.他是个捣蛋鬼，你不要跟他在一起。
• A cabinet maker must be a master craftsman.家具木工必须是技艺高超的手艺人。