英语角-圆桌会议 RoundTable0708 - 西安城墙装电梯，你怎么看？

Topic1 Hidden Industry Chain Profit from E-WasteReports say from Beijing to Hebei to Guangdong, there is a hidden underground industry chain for electronic waste management with an annual production value of nearly 100 billion yuan.

Is it a big problem?

Topic2 Post Mart Closes Rural Stores to Cut LossesAfter four years fighting for a share of China's rural retail¹ market, Post Mart, or 百全超市, a retail chain run by China Post Group and American investment company US Horizon (China) has decided² to temporarily close a portion of its stores.

Are they failing in rural China?

Topic3 Not Telling Boy He Killed An ElderlyUsually a hit-and-run traffic accident is regarded as manslaughter if it causes death of the victims. The runaway³ should bear legal liability for the death.

However, it is not applicable to all situations. Recently, in Hunan province, both the family of the victim and the runaway boy decide to not tell the truth in order to protect him.

What happened?

Topic4 New TV, radio channels of Shanghai focus on art educationShanghai Media Group is launching four new television and radio channels geared towards children and teenagers. The Art Channel, Opera Channel, along with FM 94.7 and AM 1197 will air a variety of cultural and art education programs. Wang Jianjun, executive vice-president of Shanghai Media Group, said advertising⁴ or number of viewers will not be used to evaluate the channels.

Is such a move necessary?

Topic5 Adding elevator to city wall causes controversyA project to add an elevator along the historic city wall in Northwestern China's Xi'an city has caused much public controversy⁵.

Many have expressed concerns that building such a modern facility might damage the 600-year-old relic⁶. The project was then halted by the local authority.

Is there a way to protecting the ancient construction and improving its accessibility at the same time?

Topic6 Parents Use Wechat for KidsInternet and social network used to be young people's new form of diary in which they can confide⁷, but not any more. Nowadays, more and more parents start to follow their kids on WeChat and check out their Friends' Circle.

Do you find it heartwarming or annoying?

1 retail   

v./n.零售；adv.以零售价格

参考例句：

• In this shop they retail tobacco and sweets.这家铺子零售香烟和糖果。
• These shoes retail at 10 yuan a pair.这些鞋子零卖10元一双。

2 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。

3 runaway   

n.逃走的人，逃亡，亡命者；adj.逃亡的，逃走的

参考例句：

• The police have not found the runaway to date.警察迄今没抓到逃犯。
• He was praised for bringing up the runaway horse.他勒住了脱缰之马受到了表扬。

4 advertising   

n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的

参考例句：

• Can you give me any advice on getting into advertising? 你能指点我如何涉足广告业吗?
• The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people. 这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。

5 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。

6 relic   

n.神圣的遗物，遗迹，纪念物

参考例句：

• This stone axe is a relic of ancient times.这石斧是古代的遗物。
• He found himself thinking of the man as a relic from the past.他把这个男人看成是过去时代的人物。

7 confide   

v.向某人吐露秘密

参考例句：

• I would never readily confide in anybody.我从不轻易向人吐露秘密。
• He is going to confide the secrets of his heart to us.他将向我们吐露他心里的秘密。