英语角-圆桌会议 RoundTable0131 - 精华版文化篇

 Topic1 Cao Cao DNA¹ DecodedA team of Fudan University researchers has made headlines around the world.

They recently announced that they had decoded² the DNA of Cao Cao, a great warlord from the Three Kingdoms period, some 1,800 years ago who was posthumously³ made an emperor.

However, while some express excitement over the news, others question whether the research has anything to do with the majority of the public.

So is it something that we should care after all? DNA is the handbook of life. DNA research is valuable in many cases. Why Cao Cao?

Topic2 Reading SurveyThe next Tuesday is World Reading Day. Recently, Chinese Academy of Press and Publication has released the 10th National Reading Survey. It shows that in 2012, Chinese people have read both more paper books and e-books.

So have we been reading more? What can we know from the survey?

Topic3 Law on ReadingThe State Administration of Press，Publication，Radio, Film and Television recently mulls a draft law for reading. Now experts have begun their survey work in different cities and regions. The administration is also soliciting⁴ opinions from relevant enterprises. The draft law is expected to hand in to the State Council by the end of the year.

Why do we need a reading law? Do we need one?

Topic4 Abacus⁵ a World HeritageZhusuan, otherwise known as the Chinese abacus was officially listed as an intangible cultural heritage at the 8th Annual UNESCO World Heritage Congress on December 4th in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Why is it chosen? Because it’s a heritage, or because it’s dying or because it’s a dying heritage?

Topic5 Eating OutA recent report by Unilever Food Solutions shows that over 85% of Chinese consumers eat out at least once a week.

Statistics from the National Statistic⁶ Bureau show that between this January and August, the country’s revenue of catering⁷ industry had reached of 1.6 trillion yuan, approximately 9% increase from the same period of last year. The annual revenue is expected to reach 2.5 trillion yuan.

Chinese are proud of their culinary culture. We’d like to think we have the best food in the world, though many other cultures want to claim that title as well. In terms of frequenting restaurants, do you think we can generalize a bit and say Chinese people like eating out a lot? Why or why not?

Topic6 Wuxia in Literature HistoryAfter the craze to adapt Jin Yong’s works into TV series, Wu Xia novelist Gu Long’s works are in the spotlight⁸. His complete works are being republished, 8 related TV series are being shown or in the plan, and 6 games based on his novels will be released. Although Wuxia novels are very popular among Chinese, many fans discover that in Chinese Literature History books, Wuxia writers, even the most popular ones like Gu Long and Jin Yong are not even mentioned. Should Wuxia writers be recorded into China’s literature history?

1 DNA   

(缩)deoxyribonucleic acid 脱氧核糖核酸

参考例句：

• DNA is stored in the nucleus of a cell.脱氧核糖核酸储存于细胞的细胞核里。
• Gene mutations are alterations in the DNA code.基因突变是指DNA密码的改变。

2 decoded   

v.译（码），解（码）( decode的过去式和过去分词 )；分析及译解电子信号

参考例句：

• The control unit decoded the 18 bits. 控制器对这18位字进行了译码。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Scientists have decoded the dog genome. 科学家已经译解了狗的基因组。 来自辞典例句

3 posthumously   

adv.于死后，于身后；于著作者死后出版地

参考例句：

• He was confirmed posthumously as a member of the Chinese Communist Party. 他被追认为中国共产党党员。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Her last book was published posthumously in 1948. 她最后的一本书在她死后于1948 年出版了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 soliciting   

v.恳求( solicit的现在分词 )；（指娼妇）拉客；索求；征求

参考例句：

• A prostitute was soliciting on the street. 一名妓女正在街上拉客。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• China Daily is soliciting subscriptions. 《中国日报》正在征求订户。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

5 abacus   

n.算盘

参考例句：

• They also learned to use the abacus.他们还学习珠算。
• The abacus is the ancestor of the modern computer.算盘是现代电脑的原型。

6 statistic   

n.统计量；adj.统计的，统计学的

参考例句：

• Official statistics show real wages declining by 24%.官方统计数字表明实际工资下降了24%。
• There are no reliable statistics for the number of deaths in the battle.关于阵亡人数没有可靠的统计数字。

7 catering   

n. 给养

参考例句：

• Most of our work now involves catering for weddings. 我们现在的工作多半是承办婚宴。
• Who did the catering for your son's wedding? 你儿子的婚宴是由谁承办的？

8 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。