Outdoor toilets an unused curiosity

时间：2006-12-11 06:06:40

（单词翻译:单击）


 
Dec.10 - Three outdoor toilets for males with no walls but equipped with a waist-level screen hiding a man's buttocks and waist from view have been erected2 on popular Foreigners Street in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, sparking controversy3 over their bold appearance.

 

The rounded four-urinal toilet occupies an area of two square meters. Each urinal has a 50-centimeter screen to block people's buttocks from the gaze of passers-by.

 

The environment-friendly toilet is made of withered4 grass and charcoal5 ashes and only costs 1,000 yuan (US$128), said Lu Xiaoqing, designer of the toilet.

 

"Just pull open the screen. It's easy and convenient and the height suits both men and children," said Lu.

 

The toilets were installed two months ago but are yet to gain acceptance on Foreigners Street, which is a local tourist attraction full of Western-style bars managed by foreigners.

 

Street peddlers prefer to go to an indoor public toilet instead of using the new-fangled toilets nearby. But street administrators7 assiduously use the toilets to set an example for the populace.

 

Sometimes the toilets are a necessary refuge. At other times they serve as an attraction where tourists laugh and take photos.

 

"Even though the toilets hide your private parts, you can still be seen by onlookers8. I would be embarrassed," said a middle-aged9 teacher called Wang.

 

The toilet design originally comes from the UK. People will gradually accept it because it's convenient and good for the environment, said a street administrator6 named Yang.

 

However, Mark Binnersley, an English foreign expert in Beijing, was skeptical10.

 

"I have never seen anything like this in the UK. I doubt many people would use them as we're quite a reserved country," said Binnersley.

 

Foreigners Street plans to erect1 more of the toilets in the street as they gain acceptance.

 

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1 erect 4iLzm     
n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的
参考例句：
  • She held her head erect and her back straight.她昂着头，把背挺得笔直。
  • Soldiers are trained to stand erect.士兵们训练站得笔直。
2 ERECTED ERECTED     
adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立
参考例句：
  • A monument to him was erected in St Paul's Cathedral. 在圣保罗大教堂为他修了一座纪念碑。
  • A monument was erected to the memory of that great scientist. 树立了一块纪念碑纪念那位伟大的科学家。
3 controversy 6Z9y0     
n.争论，辩论，争吵
参考例句：
  • That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
  • We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。
4 withered 342a99154d999c47f1fc69d900097df9     
adj. 枯萎的，干瘪的，（人身体的部分器官）因病萎缩的或未发育良好的 动词wither的过去式和过去分词形式
参考例句：
  • The grass had withered in the warm sun. 这些草在温暖的阳光下枯死了。
  • The leaves of this tree have become dry and withered. 这棵树下的叶子干枯了。
5 charcoal prgzJ     
n.炭，木炭，生物炭
参考例句：
  • We need to get some more charcoal for the barbecue.我们烧烤需要更多的碳。
  • Charcoal is used to filter water.木炭是用来过滤水的。
6 administrator SJeyZ     
n.经营管理者，行政官员
参考例句：
  • The role of administrator absorbed much of Ben's energy.行政职务耗掉本很多精力。
  • He has proved himself capable as administrator.他表现出管理才能。
7 administrators d04952b3df94d47c04fc2dc28396a62d     
n.管理者( administrator的名词复数 )；有管理（或行政）才能的人；（由遗嘱检验法庭指定的）遗产管理人；奉派暂管主教教区的牧师
参考例句：
  • He had administrators under him but took the crucial decisions himself. 他手下有管理人员，但重要的决策仍由他自己来做。 来自辞典例句
  • Administrators have their own methods of social intercourse. 办行政的人有他们的社交方式。 来自汉英文学 - 围城
8 onlookers 9475a32ff7f3c5da0694cff2738f9381     
n.旁观者，观看者( onlooker的名词复数 )
参考例句：
  • A crowd of onlookers gathered at the scene of the crash. 在撞车地点聚集了一大群围观者。
  • The onlookers stood at a respectful distance. 旁观者站在一定的距离之外，以示尊敬。
9 middle-aged UopzSS     
adj.中年的
参考例句：
  • I noticed two middle-aged passengers.我注意到两个中年乘客。
  • The new skin balm was welcome by middle-aged women.这种新护肤香膏受到了中年妇女的欢迎。
10 skeptical MxHwn     
adj.怀疑的，多疑的
参考例句：
  • Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
  • Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。

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