英语角-圆桌会议 RoundTable0509 - 中国人没有浪漫基因吗？

 Topic1 Sales of mall cosmetics¹ fallA market research shows the growth of cosmetics sales in Chinese shopping malls hit their lowest level in six years.

According to the Beijing-based China National Commercial Information Center, an information service for commercial businesses, the drop was partly due to the central government's anti-corruption drive and the rise in direct overseas purchases.

What does the sales slump² mean?

Topic2 Chinese Police to Patrol in ParisFrench Minister of the Interior Bernard Cazeneuve recently revealed that the French government has invited Chinese police officers to patrol Paris from this summer to protect and better serve Chinese tourists.

Does that surprise you?

Topic3 Encourage Short MessagesRecently, overseas website Imgur published a group of photographs, in which an interesting experiment: An organization delivered the same short message to 217 strangers' numbers, and said "I think you are a great man". As a result, 85% replied "Who are you? How did you get my number?" However, some replies made people laugh, touched and sad.

What makes people want to do such an experiment?

Topic4 Why Aren't Chinese Romantic?

Recently, a girl's complaint about her husband not sending her flowers sparked a heated discussion among the net users. Many of them agree that Chinese people are just not romantic.

Is it true?

Topic5 Buses tricked by cash from so-called Children's Bank of ChinaThere is no such a thing as the "Children's Bank of China".

Yet banknotes printed with this totally made-up organization have somehow made their way into the circulation market.

An increasing amount of toy money is being used by people to take public buses in different Chinese cities, causing quite a confusion.

What's happening?

Topic6 Gift Money IOUGift money is the most common though not the only way to impress your near and dear ones who are tying the knot this season.

Recently, a newly wed³ girl posted a picture online, which is an IOU note of 800 yuan in a red envelope.

Do you think it is a good idea?

1 cosmetics   

n.化妆品

参考例句：

• We sell a wide range of cosmetics at a very reasonable price. 我们以公道的价格出售各种化妆品。
• Cosmetics do not always cover up the deficiencies of nature. 化妆品未能掩饰天生的缺陷。

2 slump   

n.暴跌，意气消沉，（土地）下沉；vi.猛然掉落，坍塌，大幅度下跌

参考例句：

• She is in a slump in her career.她处在事业的低谷。
• Economists are forecasting a slump.经济学家们预言将发生经济衰退。

3 wed   

v.娶，嫁，与…结婚

参考例句：

• The couple eventually wed after three year engagement.这对夫妇在订婚三年后终于结婚了。
• The prince was very determined to wed one of the king's daughters.王子下定决心要娶国王的其中一位女儿。