英语角-圆桌会议 RoundTable0822 - 冰桶挑战，创意慈善or作秀狂欢?

 Topic 1: ALS Ice Bucket challenge catches on in ChinaThe "Ice Bucket Challenge," an activity which involves dumping a bucket of iced water over one's head to attract attention to a rare disease, has gone viral among celebrities¹ across China.

It has also raised questions over whether the challenge is a proper charitable activity or a publicity² stunt³.

What is it?

Topic 2:  Chinese don't want to throw away old stuffAn IKEA survey finds that 88% Chinese urban people don't want to abandon useless household thingsAccording to The Chinese Urban People Household Life Report published by IKEA, among urban citizens, 88% people admit that they are reluctant to abandon some household things they do not use any more, even though they realize that those things are useless and occupy too much space. And IKEA will recycle old mattress⁴ now.

What does the report say?

Topic 3: Why did a fainting on the Shanghai subway cause panicA video of Shanghai subway passengers rushing away from a man who appeared to have fainted has once again sparked debate over whether people in China have become too callous⁵ to the needs of others.

What has happened?

Topic 4: Checking up on partnersIt is natural in any relationship to sometimes want to know more information about someone than they are offering.

But is it ok to check up on them to discover it?

A survey shows increasing females in China have a strong desire to check up on their partners.

Is there a need to check up on the partners?

Topic 5: we can still be friendsWe can still be friends. This is a common soothing⁶ word when one tries to break up with his or her partner. However, can exes really build up a friendship? Can exes be friends?

Topic 6:  Girls with bigger faces more likeable:

Girls with big face are more likeable than those with oval shaped faces. This is the result of an online survey which attracts more than 5600 net users to vote. Nowadays, we see actresses with sharp chins all over the screens. Is people's taste changing now?

1 celebrities   

n.（尤指娱乐界的）名人( celebrity的名词复数 )；名流；名声；名誉

参考例句：

• He only invited A-list celebrities to his parties. 他只邀请头等名流参加他的聚会。
• a TV chat show full of B-list celebrities 由众多二流人物参加的电视访谈节目

2 publicity   

n.众所周知，闻名；宣传，广告

参考例句：

• The singer star's marriage got a lot of publicity.这位歌星的婚事引起了公众的关注。
• He dismissed the event as just a publicity gimmick.他不理会这件事，只当它是一种宣传手法。

3 stunt   

n.惊人表演，绝技，特技；vt.阻碍...发育，妨碍...生长

参考例句：

• Lack of the right food may stunt growth.缺乏适当的食物会阻碍发育。
• Right up there is where the big stunt is taking place.那边将会有惊人的表演。

4 mattress   

n.床垫，床褥

参考例句：

• The straw mattress needs to be aired.草垫子该晾一晾了。
• The new mattress I bought sags in the middle.我买的新床垫中间陷了下去。

5 callous   

adj.无情的，冷淡的，硬结的，起老茧的

参考例句：

• He is callous about the safety of his workers.他对他工人的安全毫不关心。
• She was selfish,arrogant and often callous.她自私傲慢，而且往往冷酷无情。

6 soothing   

adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的

参考例句：

• Put on some nice soothing music.播放一些柔和舒缓的音乐。
• His casual, relaxed manner was very soothing.他随意而放松的举动让人很快便平静下来。