英语角-圆桌会议 RoundTable0704 - 成都警方发炫酷招聘海报

 Topic 1: Foreign brands losing ground to domestic firmsAn industry survey has found that foreign brands are facing pressure amid a sluggish¹ consumer goods market in China, with six out of 10 losing market share to their domestic rivals last year.

The China Shopper Report 2014 surveyed 40,000 Chinese households and analyzed² 106 product categories covering personal care, home care, beverages³ and packaged goods, which account for 80 percent of the country's non-durable consumer goods market.

Is it a big loss for foreign brands?

Topic 2: Online movie ticket salesChinese movie market is booming, which is good news. However, the side effects are the tickets are more expensive and the queues in front of the counters are longer. As a result, the movie goers turn to the online platforms.

Why do people buy movie tickets online?

Topic 3: Emergency KitIn the popular sitcom⁴ the Big Bang Theory, the leading character Sheldon has an emergency bag, in case of natural and man-made disasters.

Recently, Beijing Civil Affairs Bureau encourages local households to prepare such a bag, and has given a list of the things that need to be included in the bag.

How necessary is it?

Topic 4: Dali bans candlesIn Chinese,there is a saying that when translated into English means "only officials may light the fire" or "Gods may do what cattle cannot." However, taken literally⁵, it means government officials can set a fire but they don't allow residents to light candles.

Now some people are criticizing Dali municipality for doing exactly that after they issued a new regulation banning the use of candles when there is a blackout.

However, the local government says this is a misinterpretation.

What does the regulation really say?

Topic 5: Police PostersThis Wednesday, the Chengdu Police Bureau posted a recruitment thread on its official weibo. The most eye-catching part is the 6 posters in which all the policemen look like heroes from a Hollywood blockbuster.

Is it a good way to attract applicants⁶?

Topic 6: Weird⁷ Math QuestionsLast weekend, some 6th graders in Zhengzhou took the admission exam of middle school. However the questions on the exam paper do not seem like they were made for students. Some parents have posted the questions online and netizens are surprised by how complicated they are.

Let's look at the most famous question in this exam.

1 sluggish   

adj.懒惰的，迟钝的，无精打采的

参考例句：

• This humid heat makes you feel rather sluggish.这种湿热的天气使人感到懒洋洋的。
• Circulation is much more sluggish in the feet than in the hands.脚部的循环比手部的循环缓慢得多。

2 analyzed   

v.分析( analyze的过去式和过去分词 )；分解；解释；对…进行心理分析

参考例句：

• The doctors analyzed the blood sample for anemia. 医生们分析了贫血的血样。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The young man did not analyze the process of his captivation and enrapturement, for love to him was a mystery and could not be analyzed. 这年轻人没有分析自己蛊惑著迷的过程，因为对他来说，爱是个不可分析的迷。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 beverages   

n.饮料( beverage的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• laws governing the sale of alcoholic beverages 控制酒类销售的法规
• regulations governing the sale of alcoholic beverages 含酒精饮料的销售管理条例

4 sitcom   

n.情景喜剧，（广播、电视的）系列幽默剧

参考例句：

• This sitcom is produced in cooperation with Hong Kong TV.这部连续剧是同香港电视台联合制作的。
• I heard that a new sitcom is coming out next season.我听说下一季会推出一个新的情境喜剧。

5 literally   

adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实

参考例句：

• He translated the passage literally.他逐字逐句地翻译这段文字。
• Sometimes she would not sit down till she was literally faint.有时候，她不走到真正要昏厥了，决不肯坐下来。

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。

7 weird   

adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的

参考例句：

• From his weird behaviour,he seems a bit of an oddity.从他不寻常的行为看来，他好像有点怪。
• His weird clothes really gas me.他的怪衣裳简直笑死人。