英语角-圆桌会议 RoundTable0804 - 强势母亲对家庭有毁灭性影响？

 Topic1 China factory blast reveals work safety loopholesAn explosion has killed 75 people and injured more than 180 others after ripping through a factory in east China's Jiangsu Province on Saturday morning.

Initial investigations¹ showed the accident might have been caused by flames igniting dust inside the workshop and suggested negligence² behind it.

Could this tragedy have been avoided?

Topic2 Required Death Rate for HospitalsA recent draft of the standards on medical services capabilities³ issued by the National Health and Family Planning Commission has proved controversial, as the commission has set some specific "mortality ceilings" for China's Class-2 and Class-3 general hospitals.

How much sense does it make?

Topic3 Plan issued to boost football in schoolsWith China failing to qualify for the last three FIFA World Cups, the country has decided⁴ to improve football standards at schools and colleges.

The Ministry⁵ of Education plans to introduce football league tournaments in primary, junior and high schools as well as colleges.

The focus on soccer is part of a larger plan, which involves more emphasis on physical education.

Do we need the plan?

Topic4 Rural schools become "lonely islands"In the process of a new wave of urbanization, rural education has become a significant topic and challenge facing Chinese people. Recently, a Banyuetan(半月谈) magazine's reporter visited some rural schools, and found that many of them have become "lonely islands" in the countryside.

How big is the problem?

Topic5 Bossy⁶ MomsA popular article named Bossy Moms' Damage to the Family caused a heated discussion on the Internet. The definition of bossy mom is that: some women may not have a big career but is the queen of the family; she has a bad temper and is particularly strong and overpowering.

Is it true? Does a bossy mom do damage to her family?

1 investigations   

（正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究

参考例句：

• His investigations were intensive and thorough but revealed nothing. 他进行了深入彻底的调查，但没有发现什么。
• He often sent them out to make investigations. 他常常派他们出去作调查。

2 negligence   

n.疏忽，玩忽，粗心大意

参考例句：

• They charged him with negligence of duty.他们指责他玩忽职守。
• The traffic accident was allegedly due to negligence.这次车祸据说是由于疏忽造成的。

3 capabilities   

n.能力( capability的名词复数 )；可能；容量；[复数]潜在能力

参考例句：

• He was somewhat pompous and had a high opinion of his own capabilities. 他有点自大，自视甚高。 来自辞典例句
• Some programmers use tabs to break complex product capabilities into smaller chunks. 一些程序员认为，标签可以将复杂的功能分为每个窗格一组简单的功能。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

4 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

5 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。

6 bossy   

adj.爱发号施令的，作威作福的

参考例句：

• She turned me off with her bossy manner.她态度专橫很讨我嫌。
• She moved out because her mother-in-law is too bossy.她的婆婆爱指使人,所以她搬出去住了。