英语角-圆桌会议 RoundTable0208 - 穷养儿子富养女？

Topic 1-A new card, a new life?

 

In 2017, China's social security cards are going to be versatile¹ in the lives of Chinese people. This new system allows for social security cards to become a bank card, a library card, a travel card and an ID card, all in one!

 

So, in the future, it can be used for things like purchasing groceries in a super-market as well as covering your medical expenses, for any province.

 

This sounds great, but not without pitfalls². Are people ready to possess a powerful tool!??

 

Topic 2-Should sons be raised in frugality³ and daughters in abundance?

 

For long, one proverb has dictated⁴ parenting strategies for raising kids, that is "sons be raised in frugality and daughters in abundance." Parents who strictly⁵ hold on to this belief say a son will grow up into a responsible and solid man, whereas a daughter will grow up into an elegant lady who can resist all materialistic⁶ temptations.

 

Is it true? Should sons and daughters be raised in different styles according to gender⁷?

 

Topic 3- 5 ways restaurants use music to "cheat" you

 

For restaurants, music is an essential part of putting together a complete experience. Together with decor and lighting⁸, background music plays an important role in influencing how much you spend and how you behave in restaurants.

 

The psychological influence music has over us as humans, is the very reason restaurants pay for a music license⁹ to play the right songs in their establishment. What are the ways restaurants use music to influence you and how much you spend on your meal?                                

1 versatile   

adj.通用的，万用的；多才多艺的，多方面的

参考例句：

• A versatile person is often good at a number of different things.多才多艺的人通常擅长许多种不同的事情。
• He had been one of the game's most versatile athletes.他是这项运动中技术最全面的运动员之一。

2 pitfalls   

（捕猎野兽用的）陷阱( pitfall的名词复数 )； 意想不到的困难，易犯的错误

参考例句：

• the potential pitfalls of buying a house 购买房屋可能遇到的圈套
• Several pitfalls remain in the way of an agreement. 在达成协议的进程中还有几个隐藏的困难。

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 dictated   

v.大声讲或读( dictate的过去式和过去分词 )；口授；支配；摆布

参考例句：

• He dictated a letter to his secretary. 他向秘书口授信稿。
• No person of a strong character likes to be dictated to. 没有一个个性强的人愿受人使唤。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 strictly   

adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地

参考例句：

• His doctor is dieting him strictly.他的医生严格规定他的饮食。
• The guests were seated strictly in order of precedence.客人严格按照地位高低就座。

6 materialistic   

a.唯物主义的，物质享乐主义的

参考例句：

• She made him both soft and materialistic. 她把他变成女性化而又实际化。
• Materialistic dialectics is an important part of constituting Marxism. 唯物辩证法是马克思主义的重要组成部分。

7 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。

8 lighting   

n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光

参考例句：

• The gas lamp gradually lost ground to electric lighting.煤气灯逐渐为电灯所代替。
• The lighting in that restaurant is soft and romantic.那个餐馆照明柔和而且浪漫。

9 license   

n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许

参考例句：

• The foreign guest has a license on the person.这个外国客人随身携带执照。
• The driver was arrested for having false license plates on his car.司机由于使用假车牌而被捕。