时尚英语话题 23

　　23 More changes--changing the world
After thinking about some changes I'd like to make with myself, I started thinking about the changes I'd like to make with my family, and even my neighborhood. It's possible to think about things to add and to leap¹ in your work place, too. People often complain about their jobs, their bosses and their work places. In fact, people talk about changes they'd like to make about work more than they talk about changes for anything else!
Are there any changes you'd like to make in your home, your neighborhood, your work place, or even on a larger level? What if you were in charge of the United² Nations? What are some causes that you would fight for? I don't think we have to be the president of a country, or the boss of a company to make changes happen. I guess the first place is in the home. But we don't just live in the house all day. Sure, I know there are limits for what we can change. And also, the way we go about making changes is important. It's easy to rub³ someone the wrong way when just making a suggestion, but that doesn't mean we still can't make changes, or at least try to make changes. Sometimes, I think that making changes is a good thing. How about you?
Talk about it:
Creating changes is a very real challenge⁴, do you agree? Have you tried and failed at making changes? What changes have you tried to make? What changes would you like to make? What would you change if you were the president of Korea⁵? What would you change if you were the head of the United Nations? Are all changes good? Why or why not? Do you have a say in the changes on decisions that occurred⁶ in your household? 

1 leap   

n.跳跃，飞跃，跃进；vi.跳跃，跳过；猛然行动，迅速行动；vt.跃过，使跃过

参考例句：

• In the last few years,this art has made a big leap.近几年来，这一艺术有了新的跃进。
• Her marriage to John was a leap in the dark.她与约翰结婚是贸然行动。

2 united   

adj.和谐的；团结的；联合的，统一的

参考例句：

• The whole nation is closely united.全国人民紧密团结。
• The two men were united by community of interests.共同的利益使两个人结合在一起。

3 rub   

n.摩擦，困难，障碍，难点，磨损处；vt.擦，搓，摩擦，惹怒；vi.摩擦，擦破

参考例句：

• Don't let the wire rub up against the pipe.别让电线碰到管子上。
• He used to rub up against many famous movie stars.他过去经常偶然碰到许多有名的影星。

4 challenge   

n.挑战；v.向...挑战

参考例句：

• The job doesn't really challenge him.这项工作不能真正地考验他。
• She looked at me with challenge.她带着挑战的目光看着我。

5 Korea   

n.朝鲜(亚洲)

参考例句：

• Korea lies to the east of China.韩国位于中国东面。
• Korea and China are separated by only the Yalu River.朝鲜和中国只隔一条鸭绿江。

6 occurred   

v.发生(occur 的过去分词)

参考例句：

• The prosecution stated that intercourse had occurred on several occasions. 控诉方称发生过数次性交。
• These changes have occurred over a long time span. 这些变化经过了很长一段时间才形成。