英语角-圆桌会议 RoundTable0105 - 中国人爱看烂片？（在线收听）

Topic1 Harbin fire

Five firefighters are now confirmed dead after a warehouse caught fire in the northeast of China.

The fire broke out at midday January 2nd in a lower-floor warehouse of an eleven-story residential building in Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang Province.

An investigation is underway into the fire that has affected more than 2,000 people.

What happened? Was something really wrong?

Topic2 Science Magazine Printed TCM Issue

Recently, America's Science Magazine has published a series of articles about Traditional Chinese Medicine, or TCM, which sparks huge controversy in the country. Is it a big step for TCM or not?

What seems to be the controversy? Why should we care?

Topic3 1 in 10 drivers admit they drive after drinking

More than 10 percent of Chinese drivers admitted that they occasionally drive after drinking, according to a recent report by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and US insurance company AIG.

Are you surprised? What did the report say?

Topic4 Do Chinese People Love Crappy Movies?

It's beginning of the year. Reviewers and media are busy working on their own movie lists. British magazine "The Economist" predicted earlier that China's box office revenue will exceed 30 billion Yuan in 2014. However, the final figure stops at a bit more than 29 billion, even with much-anticipated movies like Jiang Wen's "Gone with The Bullets". Why is it that insiders' favorite can't win box office? Do we only like crappy movies?

Why do crappy movies sell well?