英语角-圆桌会议 RoundTable0422 - 白米饭是垃圾食品之王？

 Topic 1:  Pension changes in 25 provinces25 out of 33 provinces and regions just raised the pension amounts for urban residents of the private sector¹ with those from Beijing seeing the highest raises.  However, some reports say that it isn't just the payouts that have risen, but also individual contributions from those still in the workforce².

Is there a need raise the payouts for urban residents who haven't worked for the government?

Topic 2: No trust for community hospitalAccording to a recent survey by the China Youth Daily, 68% of respondents say they don't trust community hospitals or local clinics.

Nearly, 42% choose top level hospitals when they get sick whereas only 27% would go to a community health center.

Even with the cost and hassle, people still seem very willing to go to the larger hospitals even when there is a hospital or clinic near them.  Why do you think we're still seeing this type of contradiction?

Topic 3:  Public Transport Cards to be IntegratedThe Ministry³ of Transportation says China is to set up a public transportation payment system which will allow holders⁴ of one IC card of public transportation to use it on all kinds of public transportation in all medium and large cities in China by 2016. The network is expected to cover all cities in the country by 2020.

Do we need this?

Topic 4: Rice is Junk FoodAn article claiming that rice is the king of junk food has attracted enormous amounts of attention online.  The author claims that cooked rice has barely any nutritional⁵ value and that it may increase the likelihood of developing diabetes⁶.

Are these claims true?

Topic 5: Graduates Go Through Cosmetic⁷ Surgery to Boost Competitiveness7.17 million college graduates will be competing for jobs this year, a 3% jump from last year. Facing again the toughest graduation season, some college students have resorted to Photoshop techniques and even plastic surgery to boost their competitiveness.

How widespread? Why?

Topic 6: Food more expensive in train stationsThe Beijing Youth Daily recently sent some journalists to the Beijing South Railway Station to take a peek⁸ at their food service business.  What they was astonishing….. for some.  Apparently, food sold at fast food restaurants was more expensive than in other places in the city.

Are you surprised?

1 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

2 workforce   

n.劳动大军，劳动力

参考例句：

• A large part of the workforce is employed in agriculture.劳动人口中一大部分受雇于农业。
• A quarter of the local workforce is unemployed.本地劳动力中有四分之一失业。

3 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。

4 holders   

支持物( holder的名词复数 )； 持有者； （支票等）持有人； 支托（或握持）…之物

参考例句：

• Slaves were mercilessly ground down by slave holders. 奴隶受奴隶主的残酷压迫。
• It is recognition of compassion's part that leads the up-holders of capital punishment to accuse the abolitionists of sentimentality in being more sorry for the murderer than for his victim. 正是对怜悯的作用有了认识，才使得死刑的提倡者指控主张废除死刑的人感情用事，同情谋杀犯胜过同情受害者。

5 nutritional   

adj.营养的，滋养的

参考例句：

• A diet lacking in nutritional value will not keep a person healthy.缺乏营养价值的饮食不能维持人的健康。
• The labels on food products give a lot of information about their nutritional content.食品上的标签提供很多关于营养成分的信息。

6 diabetes   

n.糖尿病

参考例句：

• In case of diabetes, physicians advise against the use of sugar.对于糖尿病患者，医生告诫他们不要吃糖。
• Diabetes is caused by a fault in the insulin production of the body.糖尿病是由体內胰岛素分泌失调引起的。

7 cosmetic   

n.化妆品；adj.化妆用的；装门面的；装饰性的

参考例句：

• These changes are purely cosmetic.这些改变纯粹是装饰门面。
• Laughter is the best cosmetic,so grin and wear it!微笑是最好的化妆品，所以请尽情微笑吧！

8 peek   

vi.偷看，窥视；n.偷偷的一看，一瞥

参考例句：

• Larry takes a peek out of the window.赖瑞往窗外偷看了一下。
• Cover your eyes and don't peek.捂上眼睛，别偷看。