英语角-圆桌会议 RoundTable0127 - 中国电视抄袭美国？

 Topic1 Global Income RankingChinese internet users are abuzz about an online tool on CNN's website that calculates how one's annual wages compare with those around the world. And many of them aren't happy to know how little they make compared to their peers. It is being reported that the high income earners in China do not make as much as a taxi driver in South Africa.

However, is this calculator scientific enough? Can we really take it seriously?

Topic2 Three Kingdoms of Wealth Management ProductsBanks are raising deposit interest rate and launching similar products to keep money from flowing out the door to Yu E Bao and Licaitong.

Why is it that the two products, launched on Alipay and WeChat respectively, have successfully threatened banks in the first place?

Topic3 WeChat and Alipay Compete on Taxi PaymentThere are pennies rained down from heaven, not by god, but by the mobile e-commerce giants Alipay and Tencent, who are in a new round of competition targeting taxi-calling apps.

Thanks to their reward programs, customers can now technically¹ ride taxis for free over short distances.

How is this possible?

Topic4 Should pre-school education be free?

Wei Aimin, representative of Beijing Municipal People's Congress, suggests that Beijing government should prolong 9 years of compulsory² education to 12 years, covering current pre-school education or kindergarten education.

Is there a need why preschool education should be free?

Topic5 What Does It Take to Watch CCTV Spring Festival Gala on the Spot?

Organizers of the China Central Television 2014 Spring Festival Gala have denied that online shops are authorized³ to sell the tickets.

Auditorium⁴ seats were offered for 30,000 yuan each on Taobao, China's biggest e-commerce platform, and table seating at 48,000 yuan, or 8,000 US dollars.

CCTV Spring Festival Gala organizers say on the event's official Weibo that they have never sold any tickets via any channel, and the audience should be on guard against fraud.

But then it makes one wonder—who are these people watching the show right there on the spot? And what does it take to be one of them?

Is there some truth to the guess that one pays to be a live audience of Chun Wan⁵. Where does the rumor⁶ come from?

Topic6 Chinese TV Shows Copy American ShowsBoston-based magazine The Atlantic recently published an article accusing Chinese TV talk shows and commercials of copying American ones. In specific, it says a Ningxia Satellite TV show The Banquet opening of The Colbert Report. Let's listen to a clip of the Colbert Report responding to the alleged⁷ copying.

1 technically   

adv.专门地，技术上地

参考例句：

• Technically it is the most advanced equipment ever.从技术上说，这是最先进的设备。
• The tomato is technically a fruit,although it is eaten as a vegetable.严格地说，西红柿是一种水果，尽管它是当作蔬菜吃的。

2 compulsory   

n.强制的，必修的；规定的，义务的

参考例句：

• Is English a compulsory subject?英语是必修课吗？
• Compulsory schooling ends at sixteen.义务教育至16岁为止。

3 authorized   

a.委任的，许可的

参考例句：

• An administrative order is valid if authorized by a statute.如果一个行政命令得到一个法规的认可那么这个命令就是有效的。

4 auditorium   

n.观众席，听众席；会堂，礼堂

参考例句：

• The teacher gathered all the pupils in the auditorium.老师把全体同学集合在礼堂内。
• The stage is thrust forward into the auditorium.舞台向前突出，伸入观众席。

5 wan   

(wide area network)广域网

参考例句：

• The shared connection can be an Ethernet,wireless LAN,or wireless WAN connection.提供共享的网络连接可以是以太网、无线局域网或无线广域网。

6 rumor   

n.谣言，谣传，传说

参考例句：

• The rumor has been traced back to a bad man.那谣言经追查是个坏人造的。
• The rumor has taken air.谣言流传开了。

7 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为