英语角-圆桌会议 RoundTable1121 - 羊年生子不吉利？羊宝宝们不高兴！

Topic1 Trashy TV Dramas VS Intelligent TVToday is World Television Day. According to a recent survey conducted by China Youth Daily, many young people prefer trash TV to intelligent drama since the former is more relaxing and entertaining.

So first of all what is trash TV and intelligent drama?

Topic2 Are Chinese women more of a spendthrift than Chinese men?

Many female shoppers have been described as spendthrift as they are keen on shopping online, especially during the annual November 11th online buying festival.

Women online shoppers using Taobao have now been given a name: "Jack¹ Ma's women" - female shopaholics who cannot resist a bargain - and many believe it was this group especially who were the driving force behind this year's record-breaking sales during Singles' Day, of 57.1 billion yuan (US$9.3 billion).

But is it true that Chinese women spend more shopping online than their male counterparts²? You might be surprised to find out that the answer is actually no.

Do Chinese men spend more shopping online?

Topic3 The year of the Goat considered badSome people are born lucky. Parents in China, however, would rather not leave their kids' fate to chance.

According to The Paper, for recent months, many couples have postponed³ their plan to have a child, trying desperately⁴ NOT to give birth next year. Their reasoning is simple that is no one wants a baby born in 2015, the dreaded⁵ Year of the Sheep.

Does this make sense?

Topic4 Wearing Plastic Wraps Instead of Long JohnsEvery year when the winter comes, there is a big discussion about wearing long johns or not. To resist this old fashion, some young people in Chengdu swathe food wrap around their legs.

Is it crazy or smart?

Topic5 10 stupidest absence excusesFrom claiming they need the day to fix some botched plastic surgery to saying they accidentally got on a plane, America's workers have either had some sitcom-worthy misadventures this year, or they've simply gotten more creative with their sick day excuses.

A new CareerBuilder survey looks at how many workers have faked being sick this year, as well as some of the strangest excuses they've used while doing so.

How weird⁶ are these excuses? What is this list of The Most Unbelievable Excuses for Calling In Sick? Please bear in mind this is a survey done in the US.

 

1 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

2 counterparts   

与对方地位相当的人，与另一方作用相当的物( counterpart的名词复数 )； 同仁

参考例句：

• Deep-sea valleys are the counterparts of the mountain chains. 深海里的峡谷相当于陆地上的山脉。
• Many states have enacted their own counterparts to RCRA and CERCLA. 许多州都已经针对《资源保护和恢复法》和《综合性环境反应、赔偿与责任法案》制定了他们各自的实施细则。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

3 postponed   

vt.& vi.延期，缓办，（使）延迟vt.把…放在次要地位；[语]把…放在后面（或句尾）vi.（疟疾等）延缓发作（或复发）

参考例句：

• The trial was postponed indefinitely. 审讯无限期延迟。
• The game has already been postponed three times. 这场比赛已经三度延期了。

4 desperately   

adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地

参考例句：

• He was desperately seeking a way to see her again.他正拼命想办法再见她一面。
• He longed desperately to be back at home.他非常渴望回家。

5 dreaded   

adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词)

参考例句：

• The dreaded moment had finally arrived. 可怕的时刻终于来到了。
• He dreaded having to spend Christmas in hospital. 他害怕非得在医院过圣诞节不可。 来自《用法词典》

6 weird   

adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的

参考例句：

• From his weird behaviour,he seems a bit of an oddity.从他不寻常的行为看来，他好像有点怪。
• His weird clothes really gas me.他的怪衣裳简直笑死人。