英语角-圆桌会议 RoundTable0618 - 《蜗牛》“爬”进小学语文教材

 Topic1 Zero Down Payment Home PurchaseRecently, Bloomberg reports that China's home buyers are being offered no-money-down purchases in an echo of the subprime lending that triggered a U.S. economic meltdown and the global financial crisis.

What happened? Is it really that serious?

Topic2 Empty Gaotie TrainsA Chinese railway expert says it's ok to have empty high-speed trains and people might as well just appreciate the trains. "这样空着也好,就是大家可以做欣赏用." We aren't sure whether he means the high speed train's appearance is enjoyable, or it's nice to sit in half-empty compartments¹.

A report by China National Radio says although the summer vacation is just around the corner, there are still many unsold tickets for the country's high-speed trains.

But is it really ok if high-speed trains run every day half empty?

Topic3 School textbooks to include Jay Chou lyricsThe latest version of Chinese textbooks for primary school students in China will include pop song lyrics² as reading selections, a move that prompted both cheers and jeers³ from crowds online.

The textbook for third graders will include the lyrics of Taiwan pop idol⁴ Jay Chou's 2001 hit song "Snail⁵", in which the shelled hero fulfills⁶ its dream of reaching the sky through a relentless⁷ struggle to succeed.

What do you think?

1 compartments   

n.间隔( compartment的名词复数 )；（列车车厢的）隔间；（家具或设备等的）分隔间；隔层

参考例句：

• Your pencil box has several compartments. 你的铅笔盒有好几个格。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The first-class compartments are in front. 头等车室在前头。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 lyrics   

n.歌词

参考例句：

• music and lyrics by Rodgers and Hart 由罗杰斯和哈特作词作曲
• The book contains lyrics and guitar tablatures for over 100 songs. 这本书有100多首歌的歌词和吉他奏法谱。

3 jeers   

n.操纵帆桁下部（使其上下的）索具；嘲讽( jeer的名词复数 )v.嘲笑( jeer的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• They shouted jeers at him. 他们大声地嘲讽他。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The jeers from the crowd caused the speaker to leave the platform. 群众的哄笑使讲演者离开讲台。 来自辞典例句

4 idol   

n.偶像，红人，宠儿

参考例句：

• As an only child he was the idol of his parents.作为独子，他是父母的宠儿。
• Blind worship of this idol must be ended.对这个偶像的盲目崇拜应该结束了。

5 snail   

n.蜗牛

参考例句：

• Snail is a small plant-eating creature with a soft body.蜗牛是一种软体草食动物。
• Time moved at a snail's pace before the holidays.放假前的时间过得很慢。

6 fulfills   

v.履行（诺言等）( fulfill的第三人称单数 )；执行（命令等）；达到（目的）；使结束

参考例句：

• He always fulfills his promises. 他总是履行自己的诺言。 来自辞典例句
• His own work amply fulfills this robust claim. 他自己的作品在很大程度上实现了这一正确主张。 来自辞典例句

7 relentless   

adj.残酷的，不留情的，无怜悯心的

参考例句：

• The traffic noise is relentless.交通车辆的噪音一刻也不停止。
• Their training has to be relentless.他们的训练必须是无情的。