英语角-圆桌会议 RoundTable0108 - 考研人数5年来首次下降

 Topic1 Officials barred from disguising tourism as business tripsGovernment officials are to be banned from taking vacations disguised as business trips, and will not be allowed to upgrade their travel class unless they hold a certain rank.

China's Ministry¹ of Finance has recently released new regulations to standardize² travel stipends³ for the civil service.

Should we welcome the regulation?

Topic2 Fewer candidates take graduate entrance testFor the first time in five years, there has been a drop in the number of candidates who take the annual national graduate school entrance examination.

The Ministry of Education says that 1.72 million people participated in this year's exam, which took place over the weekend, a decline of 40,000 from last year.

What has cooled down the fervor⁴ to take part in the exam despite the abolition⁵ of a 40-year-old age limit?

Topic3 Waive⁶ the Right to Holidays and WeekendsSichuan Si Jian Construction and Renovation⁷ Engineer Company recently required its employees to sign on a contract that says: I voluntarily give up weekends, holidays and insist on flexible working hours (work overtime⁸ 1-2 hours or more per day according to company's need); I accept 130 yuan fine for being late each minute; I voluntarily allow the company to deduct⁹ 30% of my monthly income until the deposit reaches 20,000 yuan.

How is this possible?

Topic4 70 Certificates for A LifetimeAccording to an "incomplete" survey, a Chinese needs 70 certificates on average before his or her life ends.

These certificates are closely associated with the sense of "identity" and "belonging", needless to mention most of them are given the legal power of controlling people.

Are all these certificates needed? What are those certificates?

Topic5 Tailor-made Travel PlansIn director Feng Xiaogang's new comedy Personal Tailor, a company provides tailor-made plans to help clients realize their fantasies - no matter what the cost.

In reality, we may not be able to enjoy this service yet. But it has already become an option for you to hire travel agencies to tailor-made travel plans for you.

How does a tailor-made travel plan compare with traditional ways of travel?

Topic6 Hotel TesterZhang Xinyan, a young female doctoral student in Nankai University, recently got herself an enviable job – Hotel Commentator¹⁰ or Tester. All she needs to do is living in a hotel for free and then writing blogs about it. Many say it's their dream job.

1 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。

2 standardize   

v.使符合标准，使标准化

参考例句：

• We will extend and standardize legal services and provide effective legal aid.拓展和规范法律服务，积极开展法律援助。
• There is a drive both to standardise components and to reduce the number of models on offer.正在为实现零部件标准化和减少推出的型号数量而努力。

3 stipends   

n.（尤指牧师的）薪俸( stipend的名词复数 )

参考例句：

4 fervor   

n.热诚；热心；炽热

参考例句：

• They were concerned only with their own religious fervor.他们只关心自己的宗教热诚。
• The speech aroused nationalist fervor.这个演讲喚起了民族主义热情。

5 abolition   

n.废除，取消

参考例句：

• They declared for the abolition of slavery.他们声明赞成废除奴隶制度。
• The abolition of the monarchy was part of their price.废除君主制是他们的其中一部分条件。

6 waive   

vt.放弃，不坚持(规定、要求、权力等)

参考例句：

• I'll record to our habitat office waive our claim immediately.我立即写信给咱们的总公司提出放弃索赔。
• In view of the unusual circumstances,they agree to waive their requirement.鉴于特殊情况，他们同意放弃他们的要求。

7 renovation   

n.革新，整修

参考例句：

• The cinema will reopen next week after the renovation.电影院修缮后，将于下星期开业。
• The building has undergone major renovation.这座大楼已进行大整修。

8 overtime   

adj.超时的，加班的；adv.加班地

参考例句：

• They are working overtime to finish the work.为了完成任务他们正在加班加点地工作。
• He was paid for the overtime he worked.他领到了加班费。

9 deduct   

vt.扣除，减去

参考例句：

• You can deduct the twenty - five cents out of my allowance.你可在我的零用钱里扣去二角五分钱。
• On condition of your signing this contract,I will deduct a percentage.如果你在这份合同上签字，我就会给你减免一个百分比。

10 commentator   

n.注释者，解说者；实况广播评论员

参考例句：

• He is a good commentator because he can get across the game.他能简单地解说这场比赛，是个好的解说者。
• The commentator made a big mistake during the live broadcast.在直播节目中评论员犯了个大错误。