英语角-圆桌会议 RoundTable1021 - Costco进驻天猫，从此海淘不再麻烦？

搜索关注在线英语听力室公众号：tingroom，领取免费英语资料大礼包。

Topic1 Mask show at Beijing Marathon prompts calls for smog warning systemBeijing's annual international marathon has been held as scheduled over the weekend, despite the city being engulfed¹ by heavy smog, which saw a great number of runners wearing masks.

Sports marketing² insiders have called for a weather warning system for sports events in China after the Beijing Marathon took place in heavy smog on Sunday.

Do we need such a system?

Topic2 Costco enters ChinaCostco, that warehouse³ supermarket with extra-large boxes of food, has officially entered the Chinese market on October 12th, via partnership⁴ with Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba. Yet, unlike North American outlets⁵, Chinese customers will not struggle to find parking spots at a giant retail⁶ store, because Costco isn't opening one. All of the shopping will be done online through Tmall.

Costco received over 10,000 orders on the first two days of opening (October 12-14) at its Hangzhou headquarters, including orders for three tons of Kirkland nuts, and 1.5 tons of dried cranberries⁷. And the orders are still piling up.

Why is Costco entering China through Tmall?

Topic3 Exceptions made in human flesh search for corrupt⁸ officialsThe Supreme⁹ People's Court in China has recently outlined the liabilities of network service providers in a document to guide the handling of online personal rights violation¹⁰ cases.

Practices such as the human flesh searches, also known as cyber bullying¹¹, are outlawed¹² according to the document.

But exceptions are made in human flesh searches against corruption¹³ when those who practice it won't be held responsible.

Does it make sense?

Topic4 Boy's Arm was Bitten off by a Zoo BearOn the afternoon of Oct. 18th, in Hebin Park of Pingdingshan, Henan Province, a 9-year-old boy's right arm was bitten off by a zoo bear when he climbed over a 1.2 meter-high barrier in front of the bear cage and tried to feed the bear. At around 11pm of the night, the boy completed an amputation¹⁴ in Zhengzhou.

So here comes the question: who should be responsible for the incident?

Topic5 Dalian to Build a CanalDalian unveiled its own Venetian canal over the weekend, the centerpiece of a European-style tourism project that covers an area of 400,000 square meters and cost RMB 5 billion to build.

Is it a smart idea, or a waste of money?

分享到：