3月熱詞有：全國(guó)兩會(huì)勝利召開，十三屆全國(guó)人大四次會(huì)議將審議通過(guò)全國(guó)人大常委會(huì)關(guān)于提請(qǐng)審議《全國(guó)人民代表大會(huì)關(guān)于完善香港特別行政區(qū)選舉制度的決定（草案）》的議案；我國(guó)新冠疫苗接種人數(shù)超過(guò)1億；中美高層戰(zhàn)略對(duì)話；三星堆遺址出土文物“上新”；建黨百年慶?；顒?dòng)標(biāo)識(shí)等。

單針接種疫苗 single dose vaccine

2月25日，由中國(guó)工程院院士、軍事科學(xué)院軍事醫(yī)學(xué)研究院研究員陳薇領(lǐng)銜的團(tuán)隊(duì)研發(fā)的我國(guó)重組新冠病毒疫苗（腺病毒載體新冠疫苗），獲國(guó)家藥品監(jiān)督管理局附條件批準(zhǔn)（conditional market approval）上市注冊(cè)申請(qǐng)。

The vaccine, called Ad5-nCoV, has an efficacy rate of 65.7 percent at preventing symptomatic cases and is 90.9 percent effective in preventing severe disease with a single injection, according to interim analysis of late-stage human trials released in February.
今年2月發(fā)布的三期人體試驗(yàn)中期結(jié)果顯示，這款名為Ad5-nCoV的疫苗單針接種后，對(duì)抗輕癥的有效性為65.7%，對(duì)重癥的有效性為90.9%。

【知識(shí)點(diǎn)】

疫情發(fā)生以來(lái)，國(guó)務(wù)院聯(lián)防聯(lián)控機(jī)制科研攻關(guān)組專門設(shè)立疫苗研發(fā)專班，按照滅活疫苗（inactivated vaccines）、重組蛋白疫苗（recombinant protein vaccines）、腺病毒載體疫苗（adenovirus vector vaccines）、減毒流感病毒載體活疫苗（vaccines using attenuated influenza virus as vectors）、核酸疫苗（nucleic acid vaccines）5條技術(shù)路線共布局12項(xiàng)研發(fā)任務(wù)。

中國(guó)疫苗行業(yè)協(xié)會(huì)會(huì)長(zhǎng)封多佳介紹，重組新冠腺病毒載體疫苗和我們熟知的新冠滅活疫苗在原理、制備方法等方面都不相同，但最終的免疫效果是一樣的。腺病毒載體疫苗（adenovirus vector vaccines）本質(zhì)上是核酸疫苗的一種，就是將病毒的核酸片段裝到經(jīng)過(guò)安全處理的腺病毒（genetically modified adenovirus）身上，再注射到人體內(nèi)，這樣可以最大限度地發(fā)揮病毒核酸的抗原活性，激發(fā)身體的免疫作用（induce an immune response）。滅活疫苗（inactivated vaccines）則是將病毒殺死，消除致病性，保留免疫性，同樣是為了激發(fā)身體的免疫作用。

Targeting people aged above 18, the vaccine can be transported and stored at a temperature ranging from 2 to 8 degrees Celsius.
該疫苗接種對(duì)象為18歲以上人群，可在2至8攝氏度間運(yùn)輸和存儲(chǔ)。

腺病毒載體疫苗單針保護(hù)期至少6個(gè)月

陳薇院士接受央視采訪時(shí)表示：

Data shows a single dose should provide protection for six months, and there is no need to take an additional shot during the six-month period.
數(shù)據(jù)顯示，單針接種產(chǎn)生的保護(hù)期為6個(gè)月，6個(gè)月內(nèi)無(wú)需再接種。

We also created booster shots for inoculation after six months, and with a single booster, we can increase the immune response by 10 to 20 times. Based on available data, we estimate two shots can provide protection for two years.
我們也做了6個(gè)月以后的加強(qiáng)針，再打一針，免疫反應(yīng)可以有10倍、20倍的增高。根據(jù)數(shù)據(jù)，我們推測(cè)在兩針之后，達(dá)到兩年的免疫持久性。

年產(chǎn)能可達(dá)5億劑

陳薇院士表示：

China is capable of producing 500 million doses of the vaccine annually, which can cover 500 million people.
我國(guó)年產(chǎn)能可達(dá)到5億劑，相當(dāng)于是5億人的接種。

寧愿?jìng)涠挥?，不能用而不?/p>

In regards to the vaccine's efficacy against mutated strains of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, Chen said they are keeping a close eye on the situation and have begun developing vaccines for these new variants. "We may not need these vaccines, but we cannot be caught unprepared."
至于該疫苗對(duì)變異毒株的有效性，陳薇表示，他們團(tuán)隊(duì)在密切關(guān)注相關(guān)情況，且早已啟動(dòng)針對(duì)變異株的疫苗研發(fā)，這個(gè)疫苗不一定用得上，但寧愿?jìng)涠挥?，不能用而不備?/p>

國(guó)家綜合立體交通網(wǎng) national comprehensive transport network

中共中央、國(guó)務(wù)院印發(fā)《國(guó)家綜合立體交通網(wǎng)規(guī)劃綱要》（以下簡(jiǎn)稱《規(guī)劃綱要》）。

Amid efforts to optimize the country's comprehensive transport layout, the total scale of the national comprehensive transport network will reach about 700,000 km by 2035, excluding the mileage of overseas sections of international land passages, air and sea routes and postal routes. Among them, there will be about 200,000 km of railways, 460,000 km of highways and 25,000 km of high-grade waterways, with 27 major coastal ports, 36 major inland ports, about 400 civil-transport airports and about 80 postal express-delivery hubs, the guidelines said.
《規(guī)劃綱要》提出，優(yōu)化全面交通布局，到2035年，國(guó)家綜合立體交通網(wǎng)實(shí)體線網(wǎng)總規(guī)模合計(jì)70萬(wàn)公里左右（不含國(guó)際陸路通道境外段、空中及海上航路、郵路里程）。其中鐵路20萬(wàn)公里左右，公路46萬(wàn)公里左右，高等級(jí)航道2.5萬(wàn)公里左右。沿海主要港口27個(gè)，內(nèi)河主要港口36個(gè)，民用運(yùn)輸機(jī)場(chǎng)400個(gè)左右，郵政快遞樞紐80個(gè)左右。

【單詞講解】

這里用來(lái)表示“布局”的名詞layout來(lái)源于動(dòng)詞短語(yǔ)lay out，表示“規(guī)劃，部署，設(shè)計(jì)，展示”等意思，比如：The layout of the apartment was good, but the kitchen was too small（這個(gè)房子的格局不錯(cuò)，就是廚房太小了），She designed the page layout for the new magazine（新雜志的頁(yè)面設(shè)計(jì)是她做的），She laid out her plans for the new house（她展示了對(duì)新房子的布局規(guī)劃）。

《規(guī)劃綱要》提出的發(fā)展目標(biāo)包括：

By 2035, the country's transport network should be convenient, cost-effective, green, intelligent and safe.
到2035年，基本建成便捷順暢、經(jīng)濟(jì)高效、綠色集約、智能先進(jìn)、安全可靠的現(xiàn)代化高質(zhì)量國(guó)家綜合立體交通網(wǎng)。

The transport network should feature higher domestic and international connectivity, multi-channel access to major cities, and effective coverage of county-level regions.
實(shí)現(xiàn)國(guó)際國(guó)內(nèi)互聯(lián)互通、全國(guó)主要城市立體暢達(dá)、縣級(jí)節(jié)點(diǎn)有效覆蓋。

China should be at the global forefront in terms of the quality, intelligence and green levels of transport infrastructure.
交通基礎(chǔ)設(shè)施質(zhì)量、智能化與綠色化水平居世界前列。

By the middle of the century, a modern, high-quality and comprehensive national transport network will be built in an all-round way, with a world-class transport infrastructure system.
到本世紀(jì)中葉，全面建成現(xiàn)代化高質(zhì)量國(guó)家綜合立體交通網(wǎng)，擁有世界一流的交通基礎(chǔ)設(shè)施體系。

其中提出“全國(guó)123出行交通圈”和“全球123快貨物流圈”兩個(gè)概念。

“全國(guó)123出行交通圈（1-2-3 travel range）”指：都市區(qū)1小時(shí)通勤（1-hour commuting in urban aresa）、城市群2小時(shí)通達(dá)（2-hour travel time between city clusters）、全國(guó)主要城市3小時(shí)覆蓋（3-hour travel time between major cities）。

“全球123快貨物流圈（1-2-3 logistics range）”指：國(guó)內(nèi)1天送達(dá)（domestic 1-day delivery）、周邊國(guó)家2天送達(dá)（2-day delivery to neighboring countries）、全球主要城市3天送達(dá)（3-day delivery to major cities around the world）。

《規(guī)劃綱要》還提出：

China will work to build a national comprehensive transport-hub system that consists of integrated transport-hub clusters, hub cities and hub ports, the guidelines said, stressing faster construction of about 20 international comprehensive transport-hub cities and about 80 national ones.
我國(guó)將建設(shè)綜合交通樞紐集群、樞紐城市及樞紐港站“三位一體”的國(guó)家綜合交通樞紐系統(tǒng)。加快建設(shè)20個(gè)左右國(guó)際性綜合交通樞紐城市以及80個(gè)左右全國(guó)性綜合交通樞紐城市。

兩會(huì) two sessions

3月4日下午，全國(guó)政協(xié)十三屆四次會(huì)議（the fourth session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference）開幕。3月5日，十三屆全國(guó)人大四次會(huì)議（the fourth session of the 13th National People's Congress）開幕。

今年是中國(guó)共產(chǎn)黨建黨100周年，也是“十四五”規(guī)劃開局之年（the start of the 14th Five-Year Plan period）。處于重要?dú)v史交匯點(diǎn)上的中國(guó)，將如何擘畫新階段的發(fā)展方向與路徑？今年兩會(huì)期間這些議題值得期待和關(guān)注。

* 經(jīng)濟(jì)發(fā)展目標(biāo) economic development goals

2021年的中國(guó)發(fā)展，挑戰(zhàn)與機(jī)遇并存，特別是疫情和國(guó)際環(huán)境依然存在諸多不確定性。

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, China was the only major economy in the world to register positive growth in 2020, with its GDP expanding 2.3 percent to hit 101.6 trillion yuan (about 15.7 trillion US dollars) in the year.
受新冠肺炎疫情影響，中國(guó)2020年國(guó)內(nèi)生產(chǎn)總值達(dá)到101.6萬(wàn)億元，增長(zhǎng)2.3%，是全世界唯一一個(gè)實(shí)現(xiàn)經(jīng)濟(jì)正增長(zhǎng)的主要經(jīng)濟(jì)體。

Last year, no specific GDP growth figure was set in the government work report due to the uncertainty brought by COVID-19 and the world economic and trade environment.
去年，考慮到新冠肺炎疫情的不確定性以及全世界經(jīng)濟(jì)貿(mào)易整體環(huán)境，《政府工作報(bào)告》中沒(méi)有設(shè)定明確的GDP增長(zhǎng)數(shù)值。

國(guó)務(wù)院發(fā)展研究中心宏觀經(jīng)濟(jì)研究部研究員張立群認(rèn)為，

China's economy is resilient, has potential and will maintain sustained growth in 2021. But the primary goal of economic development is not to seek a nice-looking GDP figure but to raise the quality of the growth and ensure people's well-being.
在“十四五”開局之年，中國(guó)經(jīng)濟(jì)有潛力、有韌性保持一定增長(zhǎng)速度。同時(shí)，他也表示，核心目的不是為了追求數(shù)字好看，而是強(qiáng)調(diào)經(jīng)濟(jì)質(zhì)量的提升與百姓福祉的保障。

* 雙循環(huán) dual circulation

黨的十九屆五中全會(huì)提出了“加快構(gòu)建以國(guó)內(nèi)大循環(huán)為主體、國(guó)內(nèi)國(guó)際雙循環(huán)相互促進(jìn)的新發(fā)展格局”（the new development paradigm featuring dual circulation, in which domestic and overseas markets reinforce each other, with the domestic market as the mainstay）的重大戰(zhàn)略部署。

The 14th Five-Year Plan will further clarify how China will implement the dual circulation strategy and achieve high-quality development.
“十四五”規(guī)劃將進(jìn)一步明確雙循環(huán)戰(zhàn)略實(shí)施以及實(shí)現(xiàn)高質(zhì)量發(fā)展的具體實(shí)施方式。

北京大學(xué)國(guó)家發(fā)展研究院名譽(yù)院長(zhǎng)林毅夫表示：

Dual circulation is seen as a strategic and win-win choice for China to reshape its international cooperation and new competitive edge.
雙循環(huán)是重塑我國(guó)國(guó)際合作和競(jìng)爭(zhēng)新優(yōu)勢(shì)的戰(zhàn)略抉擇，也是共贏的選擇。

* 科技創(chuàng)新 sci-tech innovation

《中共中央關(guān)于制定國(guó)民經(jīng)濟(jì)和社會(huì)發(fā)展第十四個(gè)五年規(guī)劃和二〇三五年遠(yuǎn)景目標(biāo)的建議》提出的2035年遠(yuǎn)景目標(biāo)其中一條就是：

Making major breakthroughs in core technologies in key areas, China will become a global leader in innovation.
關(guān)鍵核心技術(shù)實(shí)現(xiàn)重大突破，進(jìn)入創(chuàng)新型國(guó)家前列。

National legislators and political advisers, many of whom are scientists and Big Tech executives, are expected to discuss the ways to build China's sci-tech strength and create an enabling environment for innovation.
人大代表和政協(xié)委員中有很多都是科學(xué)家或大型科技公司的老總，期待他們就增強(qiáng)中國(guó)科技實(shí)力以及創(chuàng)造鼓勵(lì)創(chuàng)新的環(huán)境等問(wèn)題展開討論。

* 綠色發(fā)展 green development

2020年9月的第七十五屆聯(lián)合國(guó)大會(huì)一般性辯論到12月舉行的氣候雄心峰會(huì)，我國(guó)多次表示，二氧化碳排放力爭(zhēng)于2030年前達(dá)到峰值（peak carbon dioxide emissions by 2030），努力爭(zhēng)取2060年前實(shí)現(xiàn)碳中和（achieve carbon neutrality by 2060）。

中央經(jīng)濟(jì)工作會(huì)議將做好碳達(dá)峰、碳中和工作列入2021年要抓好的8大重點(diǎn)任務(wù)之一（one of eight policy priorities）。

In January, Minister of Ecology and Environment Huang Runqiu said China has begun formulating an action plan to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and will accelerate the transformation toward green and low-carbon development across China's society over the next 10 years.
今年1月，生態(tài)環(huán)境部部長(zhǎng)黃潤(rùn)秋表示，我國(guó)已經(jīng)開始編制2030年前碳排放達(dá)峰行動(dòng)方案，未來(lái)10年將加快全社會(huì)向綠色低碳發(fā)展轉(zhuǎn)型。

* 立法 legislation

2015年以來(lái)，全國(guó)人大常委會(huì)已連續(xù)6年提請(qǐng)全國(guó)人代會(huì)審議重要法律。

In 2019, the NPC session adopted the Foreign Investment Law. Last year, the milestone Civil Code was adopted.
2019年，全國(guó)人民代表大會(huì)通過(guò)了《外商投資法》；2020年，通過(guò)了《民法典》。

今年將提請(qǐng)十三屆全國(guó)人大四次會(huì)議審議的，是全國(guó)人大組織法修正草案（draft amendment to the organic law）和全國(guó)人大議事規(guī)則修正草案（draft amendment to the procedural rules of the NPC）。

全國(guó)人大組織法頒布施行于1982年，全國(guó)人大議事規(guī)則頒布施行于1989年，兩部法律是最高國(guó)家權(quán)力機(jī)關(guān)依法行使職權(quán)（exercise functions and powers）的重要制度保障，施行30多年來(lái)還沒(méi)有進(jìn)行過(guò)修改。

專家表示，全國(guó)人大及其常委會(huì)在立法（legislation）、監(jiān)督（supervision）、代表（representation）等方面的工作都取得重要進(jìn)展，形成了不少新經(jīng)驗(yàn)新成果，需要在法律中予以體現(xiàn)。

關(guān)于完善香港特區(qū)選舉制度的決定 decision on improving the electoral system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR)

十三屆全國(guó)人大四次會(huì)議3月4日晚舉行新聞發(fā)布會(huì)，大會(huì)發(fā)言人張業(yè)遂就會(huì)議議程和人大有關(guān)工作回答了中外記者提問(wèn)。

The 13th National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, will deliberate a draft decision on improving the electoral system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) during its fourth annual session, according to the agenda unveiled Thursday.
3月4日發(fā)布的議程顯示，十三屆全國(guó)人大四次會(huì)議將審議全國(guó)人大常委會(huì)關(guān)于提請(qǐng)審議《全國(guó)人民代表大會(huì)關(guān)于完善香港特別行政區(qū)選舉制度的決定（草案）》的議案。

在回答有關(guān)香港問(wèn)題時(shí)，張業(yè)遂說(shuō)，

The NPC has both the power and the responsibility to make the decision at the constitutional level to improve the electoral system of the HKSAR.
全國(guó)人民代表大會(huì)從憲制層面對(duì)完善香港特別行政區(qū)選舉制度作出決定，既是全國(guó)人民代表大會(huì)的權(quán)力，也是全國(guó)人民代表大會(huì)的責(zé)任。

Calling the electoral system of the HKSAR an important part of its political structure, Zhang said what happened in recent years has proven the need to improve the system in steps with the times in order to provide a sound institutional guarantee for fully and faithfully implementing "one country, two systems" and fully implementing the principle of "patriots governing Hong Kong."
香港特別行政區(qū)選舉制度是特別行政區(qū)政治體制的重要組成部分。近年來(lái)的情況表明，香港特別行政區(qū)選舉制度需要與時(shí)俱進(jìn)作出完善，為全面準(zhǔn)確貫徹“一國(guó)兩制”方針，全面落實(shí)“愛國(guó)者治港”原則提供健全的制度保障。

香港特區(qū)政府強(qiáng)調(diào)，要確保“一國(guó)兩制”實(shí)踐行穩(wěn)致遠(yuǎn)，必須始終堅(jiān)持“愛國(guó)者治港”。

香港特區(qū)政府發(fā)言人表示，

To ensure the steadfast and successful implementation of "one country, two systems", we must always adhere to the principle of "patriots governing Hong Kong". This principle is fundamental to national sovereignty, security, development interests, as well as the long-term prosperity of Hong Kong.
要確?！耙粐?guó)兩制”實(shí)踐行穩(wěn)致遠(yuǎn)，必須始終堅(jiān)持“愛國(guó)者治港”。這是事關(guān)國(guó)家主權(quán)、安全和發(fā)展利益，事關(guān)香港長(zhǎng)期繁榮穩(wěn)定的根本原則。

"Only through ‘patriots governing Hong Kong’ can the central government's overall jurisdiction over the HKSAR be effectively implemented, the constitutional order as set out by the Constitution and the Basic Law be effectively safeguarded and the long-term stability and safety of Hong Kong be achieved," he added.
只有做到“愛國(guó)者治港”，中央對(duì)特別行政區(qū)的全面管治權(quán)才能得到有效落實(shí)，憲法和香港基本法確立的憲制秩序才能得到有效維護(hù)，香港才能實(shí)現(xiàn)長(zhǎng)治久安。

The spokesman said matters concerning the political system of the HKSAR “are the prerogative of the central government.”
政治體制問(wèn)題是中央事權(quán)。

【單詞講解】

這里的prerogative，讀作[pr??r?ɡ?t?v]，表示“獨(dú)有的權(quán)利（或權(quán)力），特權(quán)”，比如：Alex makes all the big decisions - that's his prerogative as company director.
（所有重大決定都是由亞歷克斯作出的——這是他作為公司主管的特權(quán)。）

“The central government has the authority and responsibility to improve the electoral system in Hong Kong. The HKSAR government respects that the central government is taking the lead and will render its full co-operation,” he said.
中央有權(quán)有責(zé)修改完善香港的選舉制度。特區(qū)政府尊重中央在完善政治體制方面的主導(dǎo)權(quán)，并將全面配合。

英語(yǔ)主課地位 English as a core subject

今年兩會(huì)，全國(guó)政協(xié)委員、九三學(xué)社中央委員許進(jìn)建議改革義務(wù)教育階段英語(yǔ)的必修課地位。這一建議在網(wǎng)上引發(fā)了熱議。

In the proposal, Xu said that English should not be a core subject like Chinese and math during compulsory education and more course hours should be given to improving students' skills in physical education, music and art.
許進(jìn)在建議中表示，義務(wù)教育階段，英語(yǔ)等外語(yǔ)課程不再設(shè)為與語(yǔ)文和數(shù)學(xué)同等的主課，增加體育、音樂(lè)、藝術(shù)等素質(zhì)教育課程占比。

【單詞講解】

Compulsory這個(gè)詞我們都很熟悉，表示“強(qiáng)制的，義務(wù)的，必須做的”意思，除了表示“義務(wù)教育（compulsory education）”以外，學(xué)校里設(shè)置的“必修課”是compulsory courses，再比如，It is compulsory for all motorcyclists to wear helmets.（所有騎摩托車的人都必須戴頭盔。）

Xu said English and other foreign languages should also not be included as compulsory subjects for the national college entrance exam.
不再將英語(yǔ)（或外語(yǔ)）設(shè)為高考必考的科目。

許進(jìn)的解釋是：

While English takes up about 10 percent of class hours, less than 10 percent of university graduates use the language at work, he said.
英語(yǔ)教學(xué)課時(shí)約占學(xué)生總課時(shí)的10%，但英語(yǔ)只對(duì)不到10%的大學(xué)畢業(yè)生有用。

Moreover, smart translation devices can offer sophisticated translation services and in the age of artificial intelligence, translators will be among the top 10 professions to be eliminated, he added.
此外，現(xiàn)在的翻譯機(jī)可以提供口語(yǔ)翻譯服務(wù)，技術(shù)十分成熟。在人工智能時(shí)代，翻譯職業(yè)位居即將被淘汰職業(yè)的前10名。

這番話立即引發(fā)網(wǎng)友熱議。有些網(wǎng)友認(rèn)為這一建議值得商榷。

不過(guò)，也有網(wǎng)友表示，花了很多時(shí)間學(xué)英語(yǔ)，日常生活中卻用不到，確實(shí)有點(diǎn)浪費(fèi)時(shí)間。

According to a online poll by China Youth Daily, more than 110,000 respondents opposed the proposal and said English should be taught early at schools to enable China to compete with other countries. However, around 100,000 people supported the proposal and said it would be better to spend more time learning Chinese language and culture.
《中國(guó)青年報(bào)》一項(xiàng)在線調(diào)查顯示，參與調(diào)查的人當(dāng)中，有超過(guò)11萬(wàn)反對(duì)這項(xiàng)建議，并表示學(xué)校應(yīng)該早開英語(yǔ)課，提升中國(guó)在全世界的競(jìng)爭(zhēng)力。約有10萬(wàn)人支持該建議，認(rèn)為應(yīng)該花更多時(shí)間學(xué)習(xí)中文和文化。

許進(jìn)3月4日在接受采訪時(shí)進(jìn)一步解釋稱，

"I'm not saying that we shouldn't learn English. I'm saying that we shouldn't let the whole population learn the language while only a few can use it, and this just doesn't make sense. According to data released in 2019, there are about 40 million students learning English in preschool and compulsory education, but probably less than 4 million will use it at work. They learn English for nine years and in the end only 1/10 of them will use the language. It is a waste of educational resources to make children shoulder such a heavy burden and ask them to learn a course that they may not use in the future."

“我不是說(shuō)不要學(xué)英語(yǔ)，我是說(shuō)不要讓全民都去學(xué)而只有少數(shù)人能用到英語(yǔ)，這個(gè)就不合理了。根據(jù)2019年數(shù)據(jù)，學(xué)前教育和義務(wù)教育階段約有4000萬(wàn)學(xué)生學(xué)英語(yǔ)，但工作后用得到英語(yǔ)的可能還不到400萬(wàn)。義務(wù)教育階段學(xué)9年，最后只有1/10的人有用，讓孩子背負(fù)那么重的負(fù)擔(dān)，讓孩子學(xué)一門未來(lái)可能用不上的課程，是對(duì)教育資源的浪費(fèi)?！?/p>

學(xué)英語(yǔ)到底是不是浪費(fèi)時(shí)間？

北京外國(guó)語(yǔ)大學(xué)教授張連仲此前接受采訪時(shí)表示，

The Ministry of Education made English a compulsory course from third grade in 2001. The decision had proved to be a smart one as hundreds of millions of Chinese students have broadened their horizons and improved their cultural awareness and critical thinking ability through learning the language.
教育部2001年決定從小學(xué)三年級(jí)開始將英語(yǔ)設(shè)為必修課，事實(shí)證明這是一個(gè)明智的決定，讓近億的孩子開始接觸英語(yǔ)，對(duì)開闊學(xué)生視野，培養(yǎng)文化意識(shí)、思維訓(xùn)練等起到良好的作用。

21世紀(jì)教育研究院院長(zhǎng)熊丙奇表示，

The key is to reform China's exam-oriented education system so that English teaching will focus on improving students' language skills, not exam-taking ability.
關(guān)鍵是要改革應(yīng)試教育體制，讓英語(yǔ)教學(xué)專注于提升學(xué)生的語(yǔ)言水平，而不是考試能力。

Removing English as a core subject will only result in greater imbalances between urban and rural students in English proficiency as urban students will more likely resort to costly after-school training to learn the language.
如果取消英語(yǔ)主課地位，只會(huì)導(dǎo)致城鄉(xiāng)學(xué)生英語(yǔ)水平更大的差異，因?yàn)槌鞘袑W(xué)生很有可能會(huì)花錢報(bào)課外培訓(xùn)班學(xué)英語(yǔ)。