英语角-圆桌会议 RoundTable1119 - 西游记播了3000多次，你看了几次？

 Topic1 China proposes tougher rules on text message spamChina has proposed stricter regulations on sending spam to mobile phones, including fines of up to 30,000 yuan or $4,907 for violations¹.

The Ministry² of Industry and Information Technology is now soliciting³ public opinion on a draft regulation against rampant⁴ spam messages clogging⁵ mobile phones.

The regulation may take effect next year.

Is there a problem?

Topic2 No More Unified⁶ Exams in Primary Schools in BeijingBeijing Municipal Education Commission recently announced several suggestions aimed at teaching reforms. The highlight is that all kinds of unified examinations and tests will be banned at primary school level, and schools will only record students' growing process including the development of study habits, as well as participation⁷ in social, cultural and sports activities.

Is it good news?

Topic3 Beijingers still watching television in droves according to GehuaCable television provider Beijing Gehua CATV Network Corporation has refuted recent media reports claiming that television-viewing in the capital has declined drastically in the past three years.

According to the network, out of the 4 million households sampled, 66.2 percent had their televisions switched on at some point on November 14.

The average viewing time, according to the same survey, was 203 minutes.

Is traditional cable TV being challenged, or still thriving?

Topic4 Journey to the West Most Aired Show on TV(clip)Guess all of our Chinese listeners are familiar with this piece of music. It is the theme tune⁸ for the 1986 TV drama Journey to the West.

Recently, actor Zhang Jinlai, or better known by his stage name Liu Xiao Ling Tong, is leading a campaign to earn this TV drama a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for the most broadcast and highest rated TV show.

What do you think?

Topic5 Anxious consumers snap up safety testing kitsAfter a string of food safety scandals in recent years, some Chinese consumers are taking to products which allow users to test what they are eating for harmful contaminants.

The most common of these products are food safety testing strips, which can detect the presence of harmful toxins⁹, pathogens and contaminants in food.

Is it necessary? Are Chinese consumers overly cautious?

1 violations   

违反( violation的名词复数 )； 冒犯； 违反（行为、事例）； 强奸

参考例句：

• This is one of the commonest traffic violations. 这是常见的违反交通规则之例。
• These violations of the code must cease forthwith. 这些违犯法规的行为必须立即停止。

2 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。

3 soliciting   

v.恳求( solicit的现在分词 )；（指娼妇）拉客；索求；征求

参考例句：

• A prostitute was soliciting on the street. 一名妓女正在街上拉客。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• China Daily is soliciting subscriptions. 《中国日报》正在征求订户。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

4 rampant   

adj.(植物)蔓生的；狂暴的，无约束的

参考例句：

• Sickness was rampant in the area.该地区疾病蔓延。
• You cannot allow children to rampant through the museum.你不能任由小孩子在博物馆里乱跑。

5 clogging   

堵塞，闭合

参考例句：

• This process suffers mainly from clogging the membrane. 这种过程的主要问题是滤膜的堵塞。
• And you know that eyewitness that's been clogging up the airwaves? 你知道那个充斥着电视广播的目击证人？

6 unified   

(unify 的过去式和过去分词)； 统一的； 统一标准的； 一元化的

参考例句：

• The teacher unified the answer of her pupil with hers. 老师核对了学生的答案。
• The First Emperor of Qin unified China in 221 B.C. 秦始皇于公元前221年统一中国。

7 participation   

n.参与，参加，分享

参考例句：

• Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
• The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。

8 tune   

n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整

参考例句：

• He'd written a tune,and played it to us on the piano.他写了一段曲子，并在钢琴上弹给我们听。
• The boy beat out a tune on a tin can.那男孩在易拉罐上敲出一首曲子。

9 toxins   

n.毒素( toxin的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The seas have been used as a receptacle for a range of industrial toxins. 海洋成了各种有毒工业废料的大容器。
• Most toxins are naturally excreted from the body. 大部分毒素被自然排出体外。 来自《简明英汉词典》