英语角-圆桌会议 RoundTable0110 - 狄仁杰VS夏洛克

 Topic1 Public Servants Don't Like Frugality¹ BansOn December 4th, 2012, China's central authority announced eight rules to curb² government's luxury expense and corruption³. Another seven similar rules have been released since last July including bans on new government buildings, firework and New Year card purchase, gray income and tightened⁴ management on reception expenditure⁵.

Recently The Beijing News carried out a survey on 100 randomly⁶ picked public service workers from east, central and west China about the influence brought by these bans and rules. In the interview, some public service workers say they are considering quitting jobs because of these rules.

We've talked about these bans when they come out. But there is one thing that's missing in these discussions, that is how would civil servants feel about these ban. Now we're getting there. Do you think their feeling is understandable?

Topic2 CASS Green Book suggests extending public holidaysA report by a government think tank is suggesting the nation should have more public holidays.

The country now has 11 public holidays, and according to a Green Book on China's tourism issued by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, there should be two to six more in order to revive a Golden Week for May Day and extend by several days the Spring Festival holiday.

Do we need the change?

Topic3 Nine Fears of the Spring FestivalFor children, spring festival is almost the happiest time in a year. They get to wear new clothes, party with cousins, receive red envelops⁷ and gifts, and go to temple fairs. But for grownups especially people who were born during the 1980s, the upcoming spring festival makes them frown.

An online survey shows that people have nine fears about this spring festival.

Are these imaginary fears, or can spending Spring Festival at home really be a torturous⁸ experience?

Topic4 Sherlock VS Di Renjie(soundbite) This sound-bite comes from two TV series—UK's Sherlock and China's Di Renjie.

People's Daily recently remarks that Sherlock is like new wine in the old bottle, which still becomes a huge worldwide hit. If China develops the internet industry with more effort, maybe we can let the British people know that we also have an amazing detective named Di Renjie.

Does the commentary make sense? Should more people know about the Chinese detective Di Renjie?

Topic5 30% Don't Want to Marry Female PhDHere is a question for our male listeners, if you are single, would you like to marry a female PhD?

Recently, a female PhD gets really popular online due to a lonely-heart ad, which later leads to a public discussion about the question I just raised.

30% of the net users give a negative answer. Why is that?

Topic6 Can't buy me love – Expense in a urban love affairA recent report, done by China's largest dating website – jiayuan.com, shows that a male spends in an ongoing⁹ relationship an average of 1,400 yuan per month, 1/3 of his monthly pay in northern Chinese port city of Tianjin.

The situation in other major cities in China is no better. Money spent in running a proper relationship keeps rising, due to growing living expenses.

The reality is that most guys experience economic pressure when it comes to sustaining "necessary" activities entailed¹⁰ in having a girlfriend.

1 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。

2 curb   

n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制

参考例句：

• I could not curb my anger.我按捺不住我的愤怒。
• You must curb your daughter when you are in church.你在教堂时必须管住你的女儿。

3 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

4 tightened   

收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧

参考例句：

• The rope holding the boat suddenly tightened and broke. 系船的绳子突然绷断了。
• His index finger tightened on the trigger but then relaxed again. 他的食指扣住扳机，然后又松开了。

5 expenditure   

n.(时间、劳力、金钱等)支出；使用，消耗

参考例句：

• The entry of all expenditure is necessary.有必要把一切开支入账。
• The monthly expenditure of our family is four hundred dollars altogether.我们一家的开销每月共计四百元。

6 randomly   

adv.随便地，未加计划地

参考例句：

• Within the hot gas chamber, molecules are moving randomly in all directions. 在灼热的气体燃烧室内，分子在各个方向上作无规运动。 来自辞典例句
• Transformed cells are loosely attached, rounded and randomly oriented. 转化细胞则不大贴壁、圆缩并呈杂乱分布。 来自辞典例句

7 envelops   

v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• He glued many envelops yesterday. 他昨天用胶粘了许多信封。 来自辞典例句
• Ask your friends or mother and father to save used envelops for you. 让你的朋友或父母为你留下用过的信封。 来自英语晨读30分（高二）

8 torturous   

adj. 痛苦的

参考例句：

• His breathing was torturous.他的呼吸充满痛苦。
• This is a torturous agonizing way to kill someone.这是一种让人受尽折磨、痛苦难忍的杀人方法。

9 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

10 entailed   

使…成为必要( entail的过去式和过去分词 )； 需要； 限定继承； 使必需

参考例句：

• The castle and the land are entailed on the eldest son. 城堡和土地限定由长子继承。
• The house and estate are entailed on the eldest daughter. 这所房子和地产限定由长女继承。