英语角-圆桌会议 RoundTable0112 - 车模没了，车展会清净吗？

 Topic1 Chinese social security contribution hits world No. 1Many Chinese cities have increased the amount of company and individual contributions to social security funds.

The thing is China is already ranked pretty high among 181 countries globally in terms of social security contribution proportion.

Should the contribution be higher still?

Topic2 Residents criticize Haikou marathon traffic controlA marathon in Haikou, South China's Hainan Province is embroiled¹ in controversy² over its nine-hour-long traffic control scheme on Sunday.

Public opinions are criticizing organizers and city authorities of having failed to offer a better traffic control plan, while the criticized party argues it's normal to implement³ traffic control for marathons.

What happened?

Topic3 Shanghai May Ban Sexy Car Girls at Auto⁴ ShowThe female models in revealing dresses who stole the spotlight⁵ at past auto shows may not appear at this year's Shanghai Automotive Exhibition (SAE).

Is it necessary?

Topic4 Declining number of postgraduate⁶ examination takersThe number of national postgraduate examination takers in 2015 reached 1.64 million, a decline of 65,000 compared to that in 2014. This is the second decline of test-takers numbers since 2014, showing that this annual examination is not hot any more.

Why aren't people as eager to take the postgraduate examination as before?

Topic5 List of Courses Students Fail the MostIt is time for final exams, and this is why a list of university courses that students fail the most goes viral online. The pass rate of some of the courses is even lower than 25%.

Have you guys failed any exams when you were in college?

1 embroiled   

adj.卷入的；纠缠不清的

参考例句：

• He became embroiled in a dispute with his neighbours. 他与邻居们发生了争执。
• John and Peter were quarrelling, but Mary refused to get embroiled. 约翰和彼得在争吵，但玛丽不愿卷入。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

3 implement   

n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行

参考例句：

• Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。
• The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。

4 auto   

n.(=automobile)(口语)汽车

参考例句：

• Don't park your auto here.别把你的汽车停在这儿。
• The auto industry has brought many people to Detroit.汽车工业把许多人吸引到了底特律。

5 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

6 postgraduate   

adj.大学毕业后的，大学研究院的；n.研究生

参考例句：

• I didn't put down that I had postgraduate degree.我没有写上我有硕士学位。
• After college,Mary hopes to do postgraduate work in law school.大学毕业后， 玛丽想在法学院从事研究工作。