英语角-圆桌会议 RoundTable0228 - 大学建相亲网站

 Topic1 Ban on taxi booking apps during rush hoursShanghai transport authority will ban taxi drivers from using taxi-hailing apps during rush hours from this Saturday.

The apps allow residents with smartphones to book and summon taxis to a specific location.

The ban came after controversies¹ over the software pointing to it disturbing market order and impeding² social justice.

Why the ban?

Topic2 China's Health Market to Grow FastWith rising health consciousness, China's consumer health market is expected to experience an upswing in the next five years. The trend will spark business opportunities in the world's second-largest economy,according to a recent report.

The health consumption here refers to spending on excise³, diet, nutritional⁴ supplement and wellness programs.

How much do you guys spend on these things? Do you spend at all?

Topic3 CFA names Alain Perrin new coachMedia reports that according to CFA's vice⁵ president Yu Hongchen, the 57-year-old Frenchman Perrin will take over the position from caretaker Fu Bo, who has been in charge of the team after Antonio Camacho was sacked following a humiliating 1-5 friendly loss to Thailand.

It is said the one year contract promises to give Perrin an annual salary of 0.6 million dollars, way lower than that of his predecessor⁶ Camacho, which is 3.75 million dollars.

CFA haven't confirmed yet but a news conference will be held at 3pm today, the time when our show will finish.

What do we know about him? Is he a good candidate?

Topic4 Does China still need PLA performance troupes⁷?

A special force of PLA in Beijing recently canceled over 10 training subjects including breaking bricks with bare hand, bending iron stick with throat and breaking wooden stick with back.

The brigade commander explains that military training is not a show. Soldiers should focus on practical combat skills instead of performing arts.

The news reminds people of the debate on whether PLA should keep its performance troupes.

What's the nature of these performance troupes?

Topic5 Oath-taking before GaokaoRecently, some gaokao candidates in Hebei province attend a prep rally because the exam is 100 days to go. Here we have a clip of it. (clip)Well, it sounds very like soldiers taking oaths before a battle. The photos of this prep rally go viral online, sparking some controversy⁸.

What is it exactly?

Topic6 University to launch matchmaking websiteA Hunan university will launch an internal matchmaking website for students to help postgraduates⁹ find their Mr or Mrs Right.

Central South University says the website will be finished this month and put in operation in early March.

Is the website necessary?

1 controversies   

争论

参考例句：

• We offer no comment on these controversies here. 对于这些争议，我们在这里不作任何评论。 来自英汉非文学 - 历史
• The controversies surrounding population growth are unlikely to subside soon. 围绕着人口增长问题的争论看来不会很快平息。 来自辞典例句

2 impeding   

a.(尤指坏事)即将发生的，临近的

参考例句：

• Fallen rock is impeding the progress of rescue workers. 坠落的石头阻滞了救援人员的救援进程。
• Is there sufficient room for the kiosk and kiosk traffic without impeding other user traffic? 该环境下是否有足够的空间来摆放信息亭？信息亭是否会妨碍交通或者行走？ 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

3 excise   

n.(国产)货物税；vt.切除，删去

参考例句：

• I'll excise the patient's burnt areas.我去切除病人烧坏的部分。
• Jordan's free trade zone free of import duty,excise tax and all other taxes.约旦的自由贸易区免收进口税、国内货物税及其它一切税收。

4 nutritional   

adj.营养的，滋养的

参考例句：

• A diet lacking in nutritional value will not keep a person healthy.缺乏营养价值的饮食不能维持人的健康。
• The labels on food products give a lot of information about their nutritional content.食品上的标签提供很多关于营养成分的信息。

5 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

6 predecessor   

n.前辈，前任

参考例句：

• It will share the fate of its predecessor.它将遭受与前者同样的命运。
• The new ambassador is more mature than his predecessor.新大使比他的前任更成熟一些。

7 troupes   

n. （演出的）一团, 一班 vi. 巡回演出

参考例句：

• There are six Kunqu opera troupes left in the country. 整个国家现在只剩下六个昆剧剧团。
• Note: Art performance troupes include within and outside of the system. 注：艺术表演团体统计口径调整为含系统内、系统外两部分。

8 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

9 postgraduates   

研究生( postgraduate的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Professor Zhu will give lectures to the postgraduates [graduate students] this term. 朱教授这学期给研究生开课。
• These postgraduates were a very talented group. 这些研究生是一群天分很高的学生。