英语角-圆桌会议 RoundTable0528 - 电子产品成婚姻杀手

 Topic1 Nursing Home Fire in HenanNursing homes are supposed to be a safe harbor for the elderly in their final stages of life. However, a heavy fire in Henan recently raises the alarm, reminding us to pay more attention to safety of nursing homes as well as the life of retirees.

Should it have happened?

Topic2 Proving your mother is your motherChinese citizens may be used to jumping through bureaucratic¹ hoops², but one question had everyone stumped³ recently: How do you prove your mother is your mother?

That's not the end of the story.

The latest case happened in Xi'an where a Mr. Wu had to prove her mother, who died 27 years ago, did pass away, in order to be able to inherit her father's properties.

Is it a big problem?

Topic3 Smartphone mania⁴ drives families apartChoosing between a life partner or a smartphone seems to be the question before the GenNext Chinese.

A recent survey by the All China Women's Federation⁵ found that 60 per cent of married respondents complained about intrusion from smartphone use in their relationship.

Is there a problem?

Topic4 Why attractive women job applicants⁶ should NOT enclose a photo with CVA beautiful woman can use her looks for many things - but getting a job, it seems, is not one of them.

An international research suggests including a photo with a job application is less likely to lead to an interview for a pretty woman than it is for a plain Jane – or someone who sends no picture at all.

How come?

1 bureaucratic   

adj.官僚的，繁文缛节的

参考例句：

• The sweat of labour washed away his bureaucratic airs.劳动的汗水冲掉了他身上的官气。
• In this company you have to go through complex bureaucratic procedures just to get a new pencil.在这个公司里即使是领一支新铅笔，也必须通过繁琐的手续。

2 hoops   

n.箍( hoop的名词复数 )；（篮球）篮圈；（旧时儿童玩的）大环子；（两端埋在地里的）小铁弓

参考例句：

• a barrel bound with iron hoops 用铁箍箍紧的桶
• Hoops in Paris were wider this season and skirts were shorter. 在巴黎，这个季节的裙圈比较宽大，裙裾却短一些。 来自飘（部分）

3 stumped   

僵直地行走，跺步行走( stump的过去式和过去分词 )； 把（某人）难住； 使为难； （选举前）在某一地区作政治性巡回演说

参考例句：

• Jack huffed himself up and stumped out of the room. 杰克气喘吁吁地干完活，然后很艰难地走出房间。
• He was stumped by the questions and remained tongue-tied for a good while. 他被问得张口结舌，半天说不出话来。

4 mania   

n.疯狂；躁狂症，狂热，癖好

参考例句：

• Football mania is sweeping the country.足球热正风靡全国。
• Collecting small items can easily become a mania.收藏零星物品往往容易变成一种癖好。

5 federation   

n.同盟，联邦，联合，联盟，联合会

参考例句：

• It is a federation of 10 regional unions.它是由十个地方工会结合成的联合会。
• Mr.Putin was inaugurated as the President of the Russian Federation.普京正式就任俄罗斯联邦总统。

6 applicants   

申请人，求职人( applicant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There were over 500 applicants for the job. 有500多人申请这份工作。
• He was impressed by the high calibre of applicants for the job. 求职人员出色的能力给他留下了深刻印象。