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10月19日英语新闻：英国连锁超市出售秋叶

2020-10-19 11:32:08 9.7万

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1 / Supermarket sells autumn leaves

英国连锁超市出售秋叶

UK-based supermarket Waitrose has been slammed by social media users for selling bouquets of "autumn seasonal foliage" at ￡6 a piece.

英国超市维特罗斯近日遭到社交媒体用户的炮轰，因为该超市出售成束的"秋叶"，每束定价6英镑(约合人民币52元)。

Photos of various tree leaves packaged in transparent plastic foil and arranged as flower bouquets went viral on social media lately, sparking controversy because of the product's price, six British pounds.

该超市将各种树叶用透明的塑料箔纸包起来，扎成花束的样子。这款树叶产品的照片近日在社交媒体上被疯传，因为产品价格而引发了争议。

Considering tree leaves can literally be picked up from the street this time of year, it's understandable that some people went after Waitrose, accusing the supermarket of trying to make money by selling something that is actually free.

考虑到现在这个季节树叶在大街上随处可拾，维特罗斯超市被指责靠售卖免费的东西来赚钱也可以理解。

Despite the generally negative feedback to its autumn-themed product, the British supermarket explained its decision to charge ￡6 for a bunch of tree leaves by claiming that it was inspired by a demand from shoppers. Interestingly, there were those who seemed to somewhat justify the price tag of this bag of leaves by saying that it was obviously "high quality foliage".

尽管人们对这款秋季主题产品的反馈普遍是负面的，但是维特罗斯超市解释道，决定对一捆树叶收费6英镑是受消费者的需求启发。有趣的是，有些人似乎在为这包树叶的价格辩护，表示这显然是"高质量的叶子"。

That may be true, but considering you could buy flower bouquets or even bottles of wine for that same price or less, it still seems like a money grab.

这也许是真的，但考虑到你可以用同样甚至更低的价格买到花束甚至葡萄酒，这还是有抢钱的感觉。

重点词汇：

foliage

英 [ˈfəʊliɪdʒ] 美 [ˈfoʊliɪdʒ]

n. 植物；叶子（总称）

controversy

英 [ˈkɒntrəvɜːsi; kənˈtrɒvəsi] 美 [ˈkɑːntrəvɜːrsi]

n. 争论；论战；辩论

2 / Work from home permanently

微软允许永久在家办公

Microsoft has told staff that they will have the option of working from home permanently with manager approval. The move mimics the US tech giant's rivals Facebook and Twitter, which have also said remote work would be a permanent option.

微软公司告知员工，如果得到管理人员的批准，他们可以选择永久性在家办公。此举效仿了这家美国科技巨头的竞争对手脸书和推特，脸书和推特已表示员工可以选择永久远程办公。

It follows a rapid shift away from office working prompted by the coronavirus pandemic. Many companies are reconsidering how much office space they need, expecting a long-term increase in remote staff.

在此之前，由于新冠疫情暴发，人们的工作地点从办公室迅速转移到家中。许多公司预计远程办公人员的数量将会长期增长，因此正重新考虑所需的办公空间。

Microsoft said some roles will continue to require an in-person presence, such as those needing access to hardware, the firm added. But many staff will also be able to work from home part-time, without needing formal approval from their managers.

微软公司还表示，一些职位仍将需要来办公室上班，比如硬件相关职位。但许多员工也可以在家兼职，而这不需要得到管理人员的正式批准。

重点词汇：

mimic

英 [ˈmɪmɪk] 美 [ˈmɪmɪk]

vt. 模仿，摹拟

n. 效颦者，模仿者；仿制品；小丑

adj. 模仿的，模拟的；假装的

3 / Life expectancy reaches 77.3

我国人均预期寿命77.3岁

Average life expectancy, a key gauge of a country's economic and social development, particularly in terms of its medical and health services, reached 77.3 years in China in 2019. That was up 0.96 years from 2015. The increase in China's average life expectancy, as seen in a statistical report from the National Health Commission, shows the steady improvement of China's medical and health system during the country's 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020).

根据国家卫健委发布的统计公报，2019年我国居民人均预期寿命达到77.3岁，比2015年提高0.96岁。人均预期寿命是衡量一个国家经济社会发展水平，尤其是医疗卫生水平的重要指标。人均预期寿命的延长显示"十三五"时期我国医疗卫生体系稳步提升。

It is the result of China's continuous investment in maternal and child health care, and its efforts to implement health-related poverty reduction programs and promote a universal health security system.

这是我国持续支持妇幼保健事业，实施健康扶贫项目和推进全民医疗保障体系的成果。

From 2016 to 2019, China's central government allocated more than 10 billion yuan to support the development of 594 maternal and child care institutions.

2016-2019年，中央政府下发逾100亿元支持594个妇幼保健机构的发展。

During the 13th Five-Year Plan period, the coverage rate of China's basic medical insurance program remained stable, covering more than 95% of the country's population.

"十三五"期间，我国基本医疗保险参保覆盖率稳定在95%以上。

重点词汇：

life expectancy

美 [ˈlaɪf ɪkˈspektənsi]

预期寿命；平均寿命

gauge

英 [ɡeɪdʒ] 美 [ɡeɪdʒ]

n. 计量器；标准尺寸；容量规格；针织物的细度

vt. 测量；估计；给……定规格

the National Health Commission

国家卫健委

4 / France to ban use of wild animals

法颁野生动物表演禁令

France will gradually ban the use of wild animals in circuses, phase out orca and dolphin shows and will ban mink farming for fur, the environment minister said. The measures would affect about 80 circuses, which have some 230 animals, including big cats, elephants, hippos, wolves and others, Environment Minister Barbara Pompili told a news conference.

法国环境部长日前表示，法国将逐步禁止马戏团使用野生动物表演，并逐步取消虎鲸和海豚的表演，还将禁止养殖水貂获取貂皮。环境部长芭芭拉•蓬皮利在新闻发布会上说，这些措施将影响到约80家马戏团，这些马戏团有大约230只动物，包括大型猫科动物、大象、河马和狼等。

France, which has three dolphinariums, will not allow the opening of new ones and wants the closure of existing ones within seven to 10 years.

法国拥有三家海豚馆，今后将不再允许开设新海豚馆，并希望在七到十年内关闭现有的海豚馆。

She also wants the closure of four mink farms within five years. The state will provide an aid package of more than 8 million euros to help animal shows switch to a new business model.

芭芭拉•蓬皮利还希望在五年内关闭四家水貂养殖场。法国政府将提供超过800万欧元(约合人民币6400万元)的援助，帮助动物演出机构转型为新商业模式。

重点词汇：

phase out

美 [feɪz aʊt]

使逐步淘汰；逐渐停止

orca

英 [ˈɔːkə] 美 [ˈɔːrkə]

n. 虎鲸，逆戟鲸，杀人鲸（同 killer whale）

mink

英 [mɪŋk] 美 [mɪŋk]

n. 貂；貂皮衣

n. (Mink)人名；(英、西、匈、捷)明克