Extensive Reading Lesson 136

论文不合格学位点将撤

据《人民日报》消息，中国教育部已经开始抽检上一学年博士论文，旨在确保博士毕业生的 质量。随机抽检的论文将直接从国家图书馆数据库中提取，博士点如发现多篇论文抽检不合格，将被取消学位授予资格。另悉，从1999至2009的10年间， 中国的博士研究生数量从5.4万人激增至24.63万人。

中国研发经费达国内生产总值的百分之一点七

新华社消息，中国国家统计局等六部门22日联合发布的数据显示，2009年中国科学研究与试验发展经费与当年国内生产总值之比为1.7％，比2000年提高了0.8个百分点。研发经费与GDP之比反映出一国在推动自主创新方面的投入，发达国家普遍在2%以上。

七成男性性生活不及格

中国网消息，中华医学发展研究会发布的一项调查显示，在超过3万个调查对象中，有70%的男性给自己的“性福”指数打分低于60分。造成这一状况的首要原因当属工作压力太大，有47%的受访男性称这是主要原因。缺乏锻炼也是原因之一，年轻人每周锻炼1次的不足1%。

黄花梨家具拍卖创纪录

据新华社报道，周一在北京举行的中国嘉德秋季拍卖会上，明代黄花梨架子床以4312万元人民币高价成交，创出黄花梨家具拍卖的新纪录。

中国夺取亚运百米首金

新华社消息，在周一举行的亚运会男子100米决赛中，中国选手劳义以10秒24的成绩夺得冠军。这也是东道主中国赢得的历史上第一个亚运会男子百米冠军。

China re-appraises Ph.D. candidates

The Ministry of Education is beginning to re-examine doctoral theses from the last academic year in an effort to maintain the quality of the country's doctoral graduates, People's Daily reports. Papers for re-examination will be chosen at random from the National Library database, and disciplines that are found to have approved too many sub-standard theses will be suspended from awarding degrees. The number of doctoral candidates has drastically risen over the last decade, from 54,000 in 1999 to 246,300 last year.

China's R&D spending accounts for 1.7% of GDP

China National Statistics Bureau and five other state departments released statistics on Nov. 22 show China's research and development (R&D) spending in 2009 accounts for 1.7% of its GDP, an increase of 0.8 percentage points from 2000. The ratio of GDP to spending on R&D gives an indication of a country's investment in independent innovation. Developed countries spend over 2% of their GDP on R&D.

70% of men unsatisfied with sex lives

In a survey published by Chinese Medical Development Research Council, 70 percent of Chinese men marked their satisfaction with their sexual life below the "pass score" of 60 points, China.org.cn reports. The survey polled more than 30,000 men. Pressure from work is the largely to blame, 47 percent of participants cited this as the main reason. Lack of exercise is also an issue. Less than 1 percent of young people work out once a week.

Antique furniture fetches record price

A Chinese Ming dynasty Huanghuali six-post canopy bed sold for 43.12 million yuan at the autumn auction of China Guardian in Beijing Monday, Xinhua reports. The price sets a record for antique Huanghuali furniture at auction.

Lao Yi makes history at Asiad

Hosts China claimed a historic gold medal at Asiad Monday as sprinter Lao Yi clocked 10'24'' to become the first Chinese winner of the men's 100 meters title at the Asian Games, Xinhua reports.