英语角-圆桌会议 RoundTable0512 - 漫天飞絮，浪漫or烦人？

 Topic1 Local Governments Tries to Save Housing MarketLast week, Tongling city in Anhui province unveils the country's latest measures to aid the real estate industry. So far, at least 6 cities in the country have rolled out measures to encourage home purchases.

What's going on?

Topic2 Infertility¹ Plagues ChineseAs some couples consider whether to have a second child amid the recent relaxation² of China's family planning policy, many are finding that having even a single child is beyond their grasp.

Infertility has already become China's third most serious health condition after cancer and cardiovascular diseases in terms of its complex causes, prevalence and impact.

How serious is the problem?

Topic3 Chinese Textbooks Not HardWe always say that what Chinese students learn in school is much more difficult and complicated than that taught to foreign students. We have mixed feelings about this, for eg, some discontent, some helplessness, and also, some pride.

However, a recent survey shows that the textbooks used in our compulsory³ education are just of medium difficulty level if compared to other countries. Many net users find it is a lot of take.

Is this conclusion accurate? How did they come to it?

Topic4 China removes price cap for low-cost medicinesChina's top economic planner and regulator says the country will scrap⁴ caps on retail⁵ prices for low-cost medicine.

Over 500 drugs considered to be essential for public health will now be officially classified as "low-priced" drugs and sold for standard rates.

The move will allow producers to set prices according to their production costs.

Is there a need for change?

Topic5 Catkin-control scheme sparks rowWhen it's the annual catkins season, the flying fluffy⁶ white stuff can be beautiful to some and irritating to others.

A scheme in Shanghai's Putuo District to stop poplar, phoenix⁷ and willow⁸ trees producing catkins that can cause allergic⁹ reactions in people has met with a mixed response.

Do you find it annoying or entertaining?

Is there a problem?

1 infertility   

n.不肥沃，不毛；不育

参考例句：

• It is the Geneva, Switzerland-based Biotech Company's second recombinant infertility drug. 它是瑞士生物技术公司在日内瓦的公司生产的第二种重组治疗不孕症的药。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 生物技术制药疫苗
• Endometritis is a cause of infertility. 子宫内膜炎是不育的原子。 来自辞典例句

2 relaxation   

n.松弛，放松；休息；消遣；娱乐

参考例句：

• The minister has consistently opposed any relaxation in the law.部长一向反对法律上的任何放宽。
• She listens to classical music for relaxation.她听古典音乐放松。

3 compulsory   

n.强制的，必修的；规定的，义务的

参考例句：

• Is English a compulsory subject?英语是必修课吗？
• Compulsory schooling ends at sixteen.义务教育至16岁为止。

4 scrap   

n.碎片；废料；v.废弃，报废

参考例句：

• A man comes round regularly collecting scrap.有个男人定时来收废品。
• Sell that car for scrap.把那辆汽车当残品卖了吧。

5 retail   

v./n.零售；adv.以零售价格

参考例句：

• In this shop they retail tobacco and sweets.这家铺子零售香烟和糖果。
• These shoes retail at 10 yuan a pair.这些鞋子零卖10元一双。

6 fluffy   

adj.有绒毛的，空洞的

参考例句：

• Newly hatched chicks are like fluffy balls.刚孵出的小鸡像绒毛球。
• The steamed bread is very fluffy.馒头很暄。

7 phoenix   

n.凤凰，长生(不死)鸟；引申为重生

参考例句：

• The airline rose like a phoenix from the ashes.这家航空公司又起死回生了。
• The phoenix worship of China is fetish worship not totem adoration.中国凤崇拜是灵物崇拜而非图腾崇拜。

8 willow   

n.柳树

参考例句：

• The river was sparsely lined with willow trees.河边疏疏落落有几棵柳树。
• The willow's shadow falls on the lake.垂柳的影子倒映在湖面上。

9 allergic   

adj.过敏的，变态的

参考例句：

• Alice is allergic to the fur of cats.艾丽斯对猫的皮毛过敏。
• Many people are allergic to airborne pollutants such as pollen.许多人对空气传播的污染物过敏，比如花粉。