英语角-圆桌会议 RoundTable0409 - 不秀恩爱的危害

 Topic1 Problems with Smart TV setsA recent survey shows about one third of smart TV owners in China have reported quality problems with their gadgets¹ within three years after the purchase.

According to the survey done by nandu.com, the rate has been much higher than traditional non-smart TV sets which used to occupy Chinese living rooms.

Is there a crisis?

Topic2 Baidu VS Putian HospitalsA spat² between leading search engine Baidu and one of its largest advertisers Putian hospital groups has been escalated³ recently after Baidu reports the malicious⁴ online attack from the latter to the police.

How did the war start? Who is more at fault here?

Topic3 Beijing to Plant More Smog-fighting TreesThis year, Beijing plans to upgrade some of the city's green belts with plants that have strong dust retention⁵ ability, in an effort to combat PM2.5 and improve air quality.

18 types of plants have been selected for the trial program.

Why do we care? Should Beijing try this hard?

Topic4 Shenzhen Decides Street Performers' Schedule By Lucky DrawStreet artists in Shenzhen will be given licenses⁶ to perform in designated spots in Futian District. According to Guangzhou Daily, they'll even be given a performance schedule decided⁷ by drawing lots.

This makes Shenzhen the second Chinese city to regulate street performers after Shanghai.

What is it about? Is management necessary?

Topic5 Forcing Boyfriend To Display on WechatA young man in Wuhan recently received an ultimatum⁸ from his girlfriend: either post her photo or their photo together on his WeChat, or the relationship is over. The girl said the guy never put up a single picture of her on his social network apps, which means either he doesn't love her, or he doesn't take their relationship seriously enough.

Is this just an individual story, or does it reflect a more common conflict that happens between guys and girls?

1 gadgets   

n.小机械，小器具（ gadget的名词复数 ）

参考例句：

• Certainly. The idea is not to have a house full of gadgets. 当然。设想是房屋不再充满小配件。 来自超越目标英语 第4册
• This meant more gadgets and more experiments. 这意味着要设计出更多的装置，做更多的实验。 来自英汉非文学 - 科学史

2 spat   

n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声

参考例句：

• Her parents always have spats.她的父母经常有些小的口角。
• There is only a spat between the brother and sister.那只是兄妹间的小吵小闹。

3 escalated   

v.（使）逐步升级( escalate的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）逐步扩大；（使）更高；（使）更大

参考例句：

• The fighting escalated into a full-scale war. 这场交战逐步扩大为全面战争。
• The demonstration escalated into a pitched battle with the police. 示威逐步升级，演变成了一场同警察的混战。

4 malicious   

adj.有恶意的，心怀恶意的

参考例句：

• You ought to kick back at such malicious slander. 你应当反击这种恶毒的污蔑。
• Their talk was slightly malicious.他们的谈话有点儿心怀不轨。

5 retention   

n.保留，保持，保持力，记忆力

参考例句：

• They advocate the retention of our nuclear power plants.他们主张保留我们的核电厂。
• His retention of energy at this hour is really surprising.人们惊叹他在这个时候还能保持如此旺盛的精力。

6 licenses   

n.执照( license的名词复数 )v.批准，许可，颁发执照( license的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Drivers have ten days' grace to renew their licenses. 驾驶员更换执照有10天的宽限期。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Jewish firms couldn't get import or export licenses or raw materials. 犹太人的企业得不到进出口许可证或原料。 来自辞典例句

7 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。

8 ultimatum   

n.最后通牒

参考例句：

• This time the proposal was couched as an ultimatum.这一次该提议是以最后通牒的形式提出来的。
• The cabinet met today to discuss how to respond to the ultimatum.内阁今天开会商量如何应对这道最后通牒。