英语角-圆桌会议 RoundTable0711 - 宜家蹭睡族碍着谁了？

 Topic1 Renting in Beijing Renting Not Easy for Young PeopleMost young people left their hometown and have to make a living all by themselves in Beijing. Their burden is not just to find a job or make money. The first lesson they have to learn is renting.

Earlier this year, the Beijing Communist Youth League Committee and Society and Legal Affairs Committee of CPPCC jointly¹ issued a survey about the housing status of 5,000 young people in Beijing. The results showed that 80% of them are renters, among which 74% of the renters have encountered different renting problems.

What kind of problems have they encountered?

Topic2 the most dangerous majorRecently a post named "Psychology² is actually the most dangerous major" becomes popular on the internet. The post starter tells the "stories" he has been through being a psychology student. Lots of netizens with different jobs reply that their jobs are the most dangerous ones.

In your opinion, what's the most dangerous job in the world?

Is psychology that dangerous?

Topic3 Facebook leases office in BeijingAccording to people familiar with the matter, Facebook Inc has leased more than 800 square meters of office space in the Fortune Financial Center in Beijing's CBD area. However, the Fortune Financial Center and Debbie Frost, a Facebook spokesperson both declined to comment.

So this time, is it just a new rumor³? And what if it is for real?

Topic4 Guangdong bans showers, locks in massage⁴ roomsSouth China's Guangdong province has drafted a regulation banning showers in massage rooms as part of a campaign against prostitution.

The draft has been publicized to solicit⁵ public opinions in an effort to crack down on prostitution. Public feedback will continue until August 6.

It also stipulates⁶ that massage providers will not be allowed to turn off the light while they work.

Will it really work?

Topic5 Will you take a snooze in an IKEA store?

On July 7th, several photos taken by Kevin Frayer, a Canadian photojournalist about people sleeping soundly in an IKEA store in Beijing was published on Time.com, which has attracted much public attention among netizens.

After the photos were published and reposted onto Chinese social networks, Chinese netizens showed vastly different opinions towards them.

Do these photos portray⁷ a daily occurrence in Ikea stores?

Topic 6 Social networks change friendshipIn recent years, there are many criticisms against smartphones and social networking services, since they create lots of phubbers who pay more attention to the virtual world instead of the real one. People worry that this phenomenon will make us increasingly alienated⁸ from one another.

However, some recent surveys show that the opposite may be true.

Are social networks bringing us closer?

1 jointly   

ad.联合地，共同地

参考例句：

• Tenants are jointly and severally liable for payment of the rent. 租金由承租人共同且分别承担。
• She owns the house jointly with her husband. 她和丈夫共同拥有这所房子。

2 psychology   

n.心理，心理学，心理状态

参考例句：

• She has a background in child psychology.她受过儿童心理学的教育。
• He studied philosophy and psychology at Cambridge.他在剑桥大学学习哲学和心理学。

3 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。

4 massage   

n.按摩，揉；vt.按摩，揉，美化，奉承，篡改数据

参考例句：

• He is really quite skilled in doing massage.他的按摩技术确实不错。
• Massage helps relieve the tension in one's muscles.按摩可使僵硬的肌肉松弛。

5 solicit   

vi.勾引；乞求；vt.请求，乞求；招揽(生意)

参考例句：

• Beggars are not allowed to solicit in public places.乞丐不得在公共场所乞讨。
• We should often solicit opinions from the masses.我们应该经常征求群众意见。

6 stipulates   

n.（尤指在协议或建议中）规定，约定，讲明（条件等）( stipulate的名词复数 )；规定，明确要求v.（尤指在协议或建议中）规定，约定，讲明（条件等）( stipulate的第三人称单数 )；规定，明确要求

参考例句：

• The trade contract stipulates for the settlement of balances in RMB. 贸易合同规定余额以人民币结算。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The contract stipulates for the use of seasoned timber. 合同上订明用干透的木料。 来自辞典例句

7 portray   

v.描写，描述；画(人物、景象等)

参考例句：

• It is difficult to portray feelings in words.感情很难用言语来描写。
• Can you portray the best and worst aspects of this job?您能描述一下这份工作最好与最坏的方面吗？

8 alienated   

adj.感到孤独的，不合群的v.使疏远( alienate的过去式和过去分词 )；使不友好；转让；让渡（财产等）

参考例句：

• His comments have alienated a lot of young voters. 他的言论使许多年轻选民离他而去。
• The Prime Minister's policy alienated many of her followers. 首相的政策使很多拥护她的人疏远了她。 来自《简明英汉词典》