英语角-圆桌会议 RoundTable1229 - 跨行转账要免费，然并卵？

Topic 1: Housemaid Kills Old Employers to Get Salary Earlier

 

Recently, the news of a housemaid killing¹ her 70-year-old employer to get her wages has shocked the nation. And that was not the first employer she killed. Why could she kill so many people without being caught in time?

 

Topic 2: China's Central Bank Demands Free Money Transfer

 

China's central bank has urged banks to stop charging fees for online transfers, those fail to comply after April 1 will face fines. The move is said to help the banks compete with Internet-based payment services.

 

Topic 3: Surrogate Pregnancy²

 

One subject of debate among lawmakers discussing China's family planning reforms has been surrogate pregnancy. Legislators deleted a provision banning surrogate pregnancies³ in the draft legal amendment⁴. However, suggested surrogacy is still something that needs to be further studied and discussed. What's the problem with surrogate pregnancy?

 

Topic 4: Online Sarcasm⁵ – Funny or Hurtful?

 

If a person asks for relationship advice in a WeChat group chat, like "My boyfriend hasn't touched me in two weeks. What should I do?" she will get responses that she never expected. For example, "Your breasts are small, but your face is big," "No need to lose weight. Your ugliness has nothing to do with your weight," "When is the last time you had a shower?" Of course, they were most likely jokes; but I'm sure as the victim of online sarcasm, the girl feels uncomfortable. Have you encountered this and how do you go about it?  

1 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

2 pregnancy   

n.怀孕，怀孕期

参考例句：

• Early pregnancy is often accompanied by nausea.怀孕早期常有恶心的现象。
• Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage.怀孕期吸烟会增加流产的危险。

3 pregnancies   

怀孕，妊娠( pregnancy的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Since the wartime population needed replenishment, pregnancies were a good sign. 最后一桩倒不失为好现象，战时人口正该补充。
• She's had three pregnancies in four years. 她在四年中怀孕叁次。

4 amendment   

n.改正，修正，改善，修正案

参考例句：

• The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
• The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。

5 sarcasm   

n.讥讽，讽刺，嘲弄，反话 （adj.sarcastic）

参考例句：

• His sarcasm hurt her feelings.他的讽刺伤害了她的感情。
• She was given to using bitter sarcasm.她惯于用尖酸刻薄语言挖苦人。