英语角-圆桌会议RoundTable0912 - 博士生能不能帮父母扫街？

 　　Topic1-PhD student helps his parents clean streets, and triggers online debate

　　A PhD student helped his parents with their work during summer vacation.

　　That's all sweet and caring of the son. Then the controversy¹ kicks in when it is revealed that the PhD student was cleaning the streets for his parents.

　　Why has this news story attracted so much diverse comments?

　　Topic2-Professional Queuers

　　In China, waiting in line sometimes feels like a competitive sport. The queues in front of certain shops that become internet sensations remind us of the overnight queue at the launch of Apple's latest iPhones. But recent news has exposed the people get paid for standing² in the queue.

　　Topic3-Grocery shopping differs from north to south

　　Thanks to the vast territory and huge population of China, diverse living habits with geographical³ features have been an ever-lasting topic among the Chinese people. For example, should mooncakes be vegetarian⁴ or have meat content, should the Tofu pudding be savory⁵ or sweet. Your answer will be a clear indication to where you are from.

　　What adds to the list now is the way northerners and southerners shop for groceries is strikingly different too!

　　Northerners often buy in whole, while southerners always buy in individual portions. Why is that?

1 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

2 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

3 geographical   

adj.地理的；地区(性)的

参考例句：

• The current survey will have a wider geographical spread.当前的调查将在更广泛的地域范围內进行。
• These birds have a wide geographical distribution.这些鸟的地理分布很广。

4 vegetarian   

n.素食者；adj.素食的

参考例句：

• She got used gradually to the vegetarian diet.她逐渐习惯吃素食。
• I didn't realize you were a vegetarian.我不知道你是个素食者。

5 savory   

adj.风味极佳的，可口的，味香的

参考例句：

• She placed a huge dish before him of savory steaming meat.她将一大盘热气腾腾、美味可口的肉放在他面前。
• He doesn't have a very savory reputation.他的名誉不太好。