英语角-圆桌会议 RoundTable0109 - 年终奖晒出不公

 Topic1 Official Doing Work Report on TVLast weekend, officials from the Qingdao city government in Shandong province appeared live on local television to present summaries of their performance over the past year.

In recent years, we have seen several cities hold such TV shows for the public to know more about the government's work.

Is the one in Qingdao a good try at improving transparency?

Topic2 Changchun To Ban Tobacco Sale to MinorsChangchun in Jilin Province will launch a new regulation which bans tobaccosales to minors¹ starting from March 1st, 2014. Violator will be fined no more than 30,000 yuan.

In fact, Changchun is not the first city having such ban. Hangzhou announced similar rule in 2009 with highest fine of 2,000 yuan on violator. Anhui Province and Chongqing city have similar bans too.

Should cigarette sale to underage people to banned?

Topic3 Chess Talent Quits School to Go ProLi Di, a 14 year old Chengdu boy, won a gold medal in The 2013 World Youth Chess Championships held in December in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.

In an effort to win in the upcoming 2014 China International Chess League Game, Li Di stops going to schools now and spends every minute into chess practice.

Why is there a controversy² over whether he should continue schooling³?

Topic4 12306 Sets Up Venting⁴ Room for EmployeesPunching bags are used not only by boxers⁵, but also people who want to relieve their anger.

This is why the customer service center of 12306.cn, China's official website for booking train tickets, has set up a punching bag in its canteen for the employees.

Why is that?

Topic5 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?

Topic6 Year-end bonus: Don't tell me it's the most, I just want moreFor the Chinese urban working professionals, the year's end has a special significance.

It doesn't only mean a time to take stock and conceive annual report, but also a reason to expect a big fat reward for one's work and dedication¹⁰ in the past year.

As some jokingly say that they only receive five bags of apples as the year-end reward, others can't help but show off their latest models of the iPhone.

1 minors   

n.未成年人( minor的名词复数 )；副修科目；小公司；[逻辑学]小前提v.[主美国英语]副修，选修，兼修( minor的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The law forbids shops to sell alcohol to minors. 法律禁止商店向未成年者出售含酒精的饮料。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He had three minors this semester. 这学期他有三门副修科目。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 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。

3 schooling   

n.教育；正规学校教育

参考例句：

• A child's access to schooling varies greatly from area to area.孩子获得学校教育的机会因地区不同而大相径庭。
• Backward children need a special kind of schooling.天赋差的孩子需要特殊的教育。

4 venting   

消除； 泄去； 排去； 通风

参考例句：

• But, unexpectedly, he started venting his spleen on her. 哪知道，老头子说着说着绕到她身上来。 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子
• So now he's venting his anger on me. 哦，我这才知道原来还是怄我的气。

5 boxers   

n.拳击短裤；（尤指职业）拳击手( boxer的名词复数 )；拳师狗

参考例句：

• The boxers were goaded on by the shrieking crowd. 拳击运动员听见观众的喊叫就来劲儿了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The boxers slugged it out to the finish. 两名拳击手最后决出了胜负。 来自《简明英汉词典》

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 dedication   

n.奉献，献身，致力，题献，献辞

参考例句：

• We admire her courage,compassion and dedication.我们钦佩她的勇气、爱心和奉献精神。
• Her dedication to her work was admirable.她对工作的奉献精神可钦可佩。