英语角-圆桌会议 RoundTable0612 - 3分钟对视亲人，你会哭还是笑？

 Topic1 Beijing obesity¹ rate hits new highThe Chinese capital's obesity rate set a new high last year as Beijingers are getting bigger and bigger.

According to the latest statistics released by the city municipal commission of health and family planning, out of every 100 adults in Beijing, at least 21 are deemed obese².

One in five Beijingers are obese, is it a big deal? Why should we care?

Topic2 Fast Made Talent Show Stars A Slander³ on ArtTalent show stars are a disgrace to artistic⁴ standards. A journalist from China News Service asked Chinese singer Cai Guoqing what's his thoughts of the recent "fast made-star" phenomenon. Cai says that if people think whoever participate in some TV programs can become a star, it was a slander on art.

Cai Guoqing served as a judge for an entertainment program of Anhui Satellite TV, called Chinese Farmers Singing Talent Show (中国农民歌会).

Do you agree with him?

Topic3 3-min Staring ChallengeCan you keep staring at a family member or closest friend for three minutes? Recently, a so called "3-minutes Staring" challenge from Tencent Video's reality show "Are You Normal" attracted thousands of netizens participating. Many share their feelings afterwards, saying they realized that they had failed to pay enough attention to their closest ones.

Is there a deeper meaning to this challenge?

Topic4 Can Astrology Save Your Marriage?

When it comes to astrology, some fervently⁵ believe it, while others dismiss it as pseudo-science. Do you believe astrology could save a marriage? It sounds barmy - but more and more couples are turning to astrologers as marriage counselors⁶. And it may actually work!

Do you believe it?

Topic5 Self-service supermarketA self-service super market opened up in Beijing to test the integrity of customers. With no cashier and no staff present, customers directly put the money in a box before leaving the supermarket with their purchase.

But just one day after its trial operation the supermarket has decided⁷ to add sales personnel as there're losses due to shop-lifting.

Some consumers didn't pay at all or just paid a fraction of the price.

Will such a supermarket model work in China?

1 obesity   

n.肥胖，肥大

参考例句：

• One effect of overeating may be obesity.吃得过多能导致肥胖。
• Sugar and fat can more easily lead to obesity than some other foods.糖和脂肪比其他食物更容易导致肥胖。

2 obese   

adj.过度肥胖的，肥大的

参考例句：

• The old man is really obese,it can't be healthy.那位老人确实过于肥胖了，不能算是健康。
• Being obese and lazy is dangerous to health.又胖又懒危害健康。

3 slander   

n./v.诽谤，污蔑

参考例句：

• The article is a slander on ordinary working people.那篇文章是对普通劳动大众的诋毁。
• He threatened to go public with the slander.他威胁要把丑闻宣扬出去。

4 artistic   

adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的

参考例句：

• The picture on this screen is a good artistic work.这屏风上的画是件很好的艺术品。
• These artistic handicrafts are very popular with foreign friends.外国朋友很喜欢这些美术工艺品。

5 fervently   

adv.热烈地，热情地，强烈地

参考例句：

• "Oh, I am glad!'she said fervently. “哦，我真高兴！”她热烈地说道。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• O my dear, my dear, will you bless me as fervently to-morrow?' 啊，我亲爱的，亲爱的，你明天也愿这样热烈地为我祝福么？” 来自英汉文学 - 双城记

6 counselors   

n.顾问( counselor的名词复数 )；律师；（使馆等的）参赞；（协助学生解决问题的）指导老师

参考例句：

• Counselors began an inquiry into industrial needs. 顾问们开始调查工业方面的需要。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• We have experienced counselors available day and night. ) 这里有经验的法律顾问全天候值班。） 来自超越目标英语 第4册

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。