英语角-圆桌会议 RoundTable - 来自星星的你为什么火？

Topic1 Are Chinese Paying Too Much TaxRecently, two pieces of news touch a nerve with the public. One is that a report issued by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences shows that the average tax burden of Chinese people reached 10,000 yuan a year. The other news is that a young man in Hong Kong earns 178,000 HK$ a year but only pays 729 HKS of tax.

The comparison of the two pieces of news caused immediate discontent among the public, many of whom complain the tax is too high.

Are these figures accurate? Can they tell us anything?

Topic2 Hospitals Buy Fake TrophiesIf you go to a hospital for treatment, and see the hospital have a big board saying the National Top 10 People-Trusted Hospitals, can you feel assured? However, would you ask where this title comes from?

Recently, CCTV has exposed an illegal medical organization that makes money by selling awards. But things look legit on the surface. There's even an award ceremony. (Clip of their award ceremony)How of big a problem is it?

Topic3 CCTV New StudioLater this spring, domestic and overseas audience will get to see brand new broadcast studio sets for CCTV's Nightly News. The new studios became hot topics recently because of their modern setting.

Some are greatly impressed, while others don't. How modern is it?

Topic4 Microsoft to take Windows XP off life supportTime is running out for people who still rely on Windows XP to manage their daily computing needs.

On April 8, Windows XP's life is coming to an end. On that day, Microsoft will stop issuing security updates to the 12-year-old operating system, and it will end nearly all technical support as well.

For Windows XP users, the best course of action is to bite the bullet and buy a copy of Windows 8.

But an academician has urged the Chinese government and industry leaders not to adopt Microsoft's Windows 8 system, citing the security threat as a reason.

Should we care?

Topic5 South Korean TV Drama VS Chinese onesOne of the hottest TV dramas in China now is called Lai Zi Xing Xing De Ni or My Love From the Star or You Who Came From the Stars in English. It's a South Korean TV drama that started airing on SBS last December.

On iQiyi, one of the biggest online video service providers, over 100, 000 audiences press "like" button for the first episode.

Really how popular is it in China?