英语角-圆桌会议 RoundTable0325 - 海淘，几多欢喜几多愁

 Topic1 People Turning to Haitao Find Themselves Buying FakesBuying overseas products over the internet, dubbed¹ "haitao" in Chinese, has become increasingly popular in China. Experts expect that this year, the total transaction of haitao will exceed one hundred billion yuan.

While haitao attracts Chinese consumers by its lower price, there are lots of fake products on the websites and it's extremely difficult for consumers to safeguard their rights.

Before we talk about the problems, how popular is haitai? Do you use haitao?

Topic2 Guizhou plans to sell canned airThe tourism bureau in Guizhou province, known for its pristine² air, has launched a "can of air" project after President Xi Jinping mentioned it during the recent legislative³ sessions in Beijing.

During the session, a local lawmaker who took pride in his hometown's clean air told Xi the density⁴ of PM2.5 in the province averages less than 50 micrograms per cubic meter.

Xi responded that air quality is linked directly to people's happiness. Showing a sense of humor, he said the air in Guizhou could be made into a "can of air".

Is Guizhou taking this comment as a real opportunity?

Topic3 Ren Ren Kuai DiOn your way home, to the workplace or malls, would you like to make some pocket money by delivering parcels like an express delivery guy? If your answer is yes, a mobile phone app named Ren Ren Kuai Di could help you. But the delivery app arouses both interest and concern as people worry about the safety of their packages if anyone can be their delivery guy.

How does it work?

Topic4 New White Collar StandardsThe white collar worker standard for the year 2014 is now on the internet. Though there is not much difference from the ones of the previous years, 96% of the net users claim they are below the average in every aspect.

So, let's see if we meet the standard.

Topic5 Netizens Complain About Ugly School UniformsRecently, photos of US First Lady Michelle Obama visiting an elite⁵ Beijing high school provoked a debate among Chinese netizens about student uniforms. Most Net users agreed Chinese mainland school uniforms looked ugly, hurting the image of the students.

Before we talk about whether these uniforms are ugly, why do Chinese start complaining only after the US First Lady's visit? How much of it is just about face?

1 dubbed   

v.给…起绰号( dub的过去式和过去分词 )；把…称为；配音；复制

参考例句：

• Mathematics was once dubbed the handmaiden of the sciences. 数学曾一度被视为各门科学的基础。
• Is the movie dubbed or does it have subtitles? 这部电影是配音的还是打字幕的？ 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 pristine   

adj.原来的，古时的，原始的，纯净的，无垢的

参考例句：

• He wiped his fingers on his pristine handkerchief.他用他那块洁净的手帕擦手指。
• He wasn't about to blemish that pristine record.他本不想去玷污那清白的过去。

3 legislative   

n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的

参考例句：

• Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government.国会是美国政府的立法部门。
• Today's hearing was just the first step in the legislative process.今天的听证会只是展开立法程序的第一步。

4 density   

n.密集，密度，浓度

参考例句：

• The population density of that country is 685 per square mile.那个国家的人口密度为每平方英里685人。
• The region has a very high population density.该地区的人口密度很高。

5 elite   

n.精英阶层；实力集团；adj.杰出的，卓越的

参考例句：

• The power elite inside the government is controlling foreign policy.政府内部的一群握有实权的精英控制着对外政策。
• We have a political elite in this country.我们国家有一群政治精英。