英語角-圓桌會議 RoundTable - 辦公室午睡之文化差異

Topic1 China's GDP Growth Slowest in 2013China's economy grew at a faster pace last year than the government's official target, yet still experiencing the slowest expansion in more than a decade.

China's gross domestic product grew by 7.7% in 2013 over the previous year, according to China's National Bureau of Statistics, a performance that was better than a 7.5% forecast.

Are we slowing down?

Topic2 Beijing will invest 760 billion yuan against smogBeijing Mayor Wang Anshun said at a group meeting that the municipal government signed an agreement with the central government in 2013,promising to improve air quality by 2017.

The city will dedicate 760 billion yuan ($125.63 billion) to cope with heavy smog. The Mayor said it would be well worth to spend even up to 1 trillion yuan in exchange for blue sky, clear water and green ground in Beijing by 2017. Wang said: "If we can't make the target by that time, top leaders joke that heads will roll."Is this about money? Can such a big sum of money ensure that air quality is improved?

Topic3 Nap Habits East and WestIf you ask a Chinese who works in a US company that what he feels most unaccustomed to in the company, the answer you'll probably get is neither cultural shock or language, but that there is no place to take a nap.

Is it true that Chinese is the only people that like to take a nap in the office?

Topic4 China Reveals Own Mobile Operating SystemUnhappy with the dominance of foreign mobile and desktop operating systems in its country, the Chinese government is backing a China Operating System (COS) that is supposed to take on Google, Apple and Microsoft in the region.

Shanghai Liantong is the company developing COS in partnership with the Institute of Software at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (ISCAS).

Is it necessary for China to develop its own operating system?

Topic5 Excess of female teachers puts pupils at risk of gender identity disorder?

Some members of the political advisory body in the eastern city Nanjing say pupils taught by female teachers in primary schools are more likely to become "feminine boys and macho girls".

Members of Nanjing's Political Consultative Conference submitted a proposal calling for more male teachers in primary and secondary schools.

Putting aside whether more male teachers are needed, is it a valid concern that too many female teachers will produce feminine men and manly women?

Topic6 Parents Stay Up to Sign Kids Up to Children's PalaceOn the 1st day of recruitment, Beijing Children's Palace, the equivalent to a part-time art and science school for youth, sees a spectacular view as thousands of parents queuing to get their children enrolled rushed in, breaking the gate apart.