These are all words for an occasion when people talk about sth. 以上各词均表示交谈、谈论。

• discussion a detailed conversation about sth that is considered to be important 指重要事情的讨论、谈论、商讨：◆Discussions are still taking place between the two leaders. 两位领导人仍在进行讨论。
• conversation a talk, usually a private or informal one, involving two people or a small group; the activity of talking in this way 通常指私下的或非正式的交谈、谈话：◆a telephone conversation 电话交谈
• dialogue conversations in a book, play or film 指书、戏剧或电影中的对话、对白：◆The novel has long descriptions and not much dialogue. 这部小说描述多，对话少。A dialogue is also a formal discussion between two groups, especially when they are trying to solve a problem or end a dispute. * dialogue 亦指两个团体间为解决问题或结束争端进行的正式对话、讨论、交换意见：◆The President told waiting reporters there had been a constructive dialogue. 总统告诉等候的记者，刚才进行了一次富有建设性的对话。
• talk a conversation or discussion, often one about a problem or sth important for the people involved 常指对有关人员就某个问题或重要的事情进行的交谈、谈话、讨论、商讨：◆I had a long talk with my boss about my career prospects. 我和老板就我的事业前景进行了一次长谈。
• debate a formal discussion of an issue at a public meeting or in a parliament. In a debate two or more speakers express opposing views and then there is often a vote on the issue. 指公共集会上或议会里就某问题进行的、常以表决结束的辩论：◆a debate on prison reform 关于监狱制度改革的辩论
• consultation a formal discussion between groups of people before a decision is made about sth 指团体间在决策前进行的咨询、商讨、磋商：◆There have been extensive consultations between the two countries. 两国之间进行了广泛磋商。
• chat a friendly informal conversation; informal talking 指友好的非正式交谈、聊天 NOTE The countable use of chat is especially British English. * chat 作可数名词尤用于英式英语：◆I just called in for a chat about the kids. 我只是打电话来随便聊聊孩子的事情。
• gossip a conversation about other people and their private lives 指关于他人及其私生活的闲谈、闲聊、说长道短：◆We had a good gossip about the boss. 我们讲了好一会儿老板的闲话。

Patterns

• a discussion/conversation/dialogue/talk/debate/consultation/chat/gossip about sth
• a discussion/conversation/dialogue/debate/consultation on sth
• in (close) discussion/conversation/dialogue/debate/consultation with sb
• to have a discussion/conversation/dialogue/talk/debate/consultation/chat/gossip with sb
• to hold a discussion/conversation/debate/consultation

Power 权力

• create/form/be the leader of a political party 创建/组建/领导政党
• gain/take/win/lose/regain control of Congress 获得/失去/夺回对国会的控制权
• start/spark/lead/be on the brink of a revolution 发起/引发/领导一场革命；革命一触即发
• be engaged/locked in an internal power struggle 参与/陷入内部权力斗争
• lead/form a rival/breakaway faction 领导/组建反对派/分裂派
• seize/take control of the government/power 夺取/接手对政府/政权的控制权
• bring down/overthrow/topple the government/president/regime 推翻政府/总统/政权
• abolish/overthrow/restore the monarchy 废除/推翻/恢复君主制
• establish/install a military dictatorship/a stable government 建立军事独裁/稳定的政府
• be forced/removed/driven from office/power 被迫离职/下台；被免职/赶下台
• resign/step down as party leader/an MP/president/prime minister 辞去政党领袖/议员/总统/总理的职位
• enter/retire from/return to political life 开始/退出/重回政治生涯

Political debate 政治辩论

• spark/provoke a heated/hot/intense/lively debate 引发激烈的辩论
• engage in/participate in/contribute to (the) political/public debate (on/over sth) 参与（关于某事的）政治/公开辩论
• get involved in/feel excluded from the political process 参与/感觉被排挤出政治进程
• launch/start/lead/spearhead a campaign/movement 发起/领导一场运动
• join/be linked with the peace/anti-war/feminist/civil rights movement 参与和平/反战/女权/民权运动；与和平/反战/女权/民权运动有联系
• criticize/speak out against/challenge/support the government 批评/公开反对/质疑/支持政府
• lobby/put pressure on the government (to do sth) 游说/施压于政府（去做某事）
• come under fire/pressure from opposition parties 受到来自反对党的抨击/压力

Policy 政策

• call for/demand/propose/push for/advocate democratic/political/land reform(s) 呼吁/强烈要求/提议/敦促/倡导民主/政治/土地改革
• formulate/implement domestic economic policy 制定/执行国内经济政策
• change/influence/shape/have an impact on government/economic/public policy 改变/影响政府/经济/公共政策
• be consistent with/be in line with/go against/be opposed to government policy 符合/违背政府政策
• reform/restructure/modernize the tax system 改革/重组/革新税收制度
• privatize/improve/deliver/make cuts in public services 私有化/改善/提供/削减公共服务
• invest (heavily) in/spend sth on schools/education/public services/(the) infrastructure 在学校/教育/公共服务/基础设施上投入（大量）资金
• nationalize the banks/the oil industry 使银行/石油产业国有化
• promise/propose/deliver/give ($80 billion in/significant/substantial/massive) tax cuts 承诺/提议/兑现/实行（800 亿美元/大幅度的）减税
• a/the budget is approved/ (especially NAmE) passed by parliament/congress 预算经议会/国会通过

Making laws 制定法律

• have a majority in/have seats in Parliament/Congress/the Senate 在议会/国会/参议院中占多数席位/占有席位
• propose/sponsor a bill/legislation/a resolution 提交议案/法规/决议
• introduce/bring in/draw up/draft/adopt/pass a bill/a law/legislation/measures 推出/提出/拟定/起草/采用/通过议案/法律/法规/措施
• amend/repeal an act/a law/legislation 修正/废除法案/法律/法规
• veto/vote against/oppose a bill/legislation/a measure/a proposal/a resolution 否决/投票反对/反对议案/法规/措施/提议/决议
• get/require/be decided by a majority vote 获得/需要多数票；由多数票决定

These words all mean to share news, information, ideas or feelings with another person or other people, especially by talking with them. 以上各词均含交流、交谈之义。

• talk to speak in order to give information, express feelings or share ideas 指说话、讲话、谈话：◆We talked on the phone for over an hour. 我们在电话里谈了一个多小时。
• discuss (rather formal) to talk and share ideas on a subject or problem with other people, especially in order to decide sth 指谈论、讨论、商量：◆Have you discussed the problem with anyone? 你与谁商量过这个问题吗？ NOTE You cannot say 'discuss about sth'. 不能说 discuss about sth：◆I'm not prepared to discuss about this on the phone.
• speak to talk to sb about sth; to have a conversation with sb 指谈话、交谈：◆I've spoken to the manager about it. 那件事我已经和经理谈过了。◆'Can I speak to Susan?' 'Speaking.'(= at the beginning of a telephone conversation) “请问苏珊在吗？” “我就是。”

talk or speak? 用 talk 还是 speak？

Speak can suggest a more formal level of communication than talk. You speak to sb about sth to try to achieve a particular goal or to tell them to do sth. You talk to sb in order to be friendly or to ask their advice. 与 talk 比较，speak 所指的交谈可能更正式。与某人交谈试图达到某一目的或让对方做某事用 speak，为表示友好或询问建议用 talk：◆Have you talked to your parents about the problems you're having? 你同你父母谈过你的问题吗？◆I've spoken to Ed about it and he's promised not to let it happen again. 我已经同埃德谈过了，他答应不让这种事情再次发生。

• communicate (rather formal) to exchange information or ideas with sb 指与某人交流信息或意见：◆We only communicate by email. 我们只通过电子邮件进行交流。◆Dolphins use sound to communicate with each other. 海豚用声音相互沟通。 NOTE Communicate is often used when the speaker wants to draw attention to the means of communication used. 说话者要让人注意交流的方式时常用 communicate。
• debate to discuss sth, especially formally, before making a decision or finding a solution （尤指正式）讨论、辩论：◆Politicians will be debating the bill later this week. 政界将在本周晚些时候讨论这项议案。
• consult (rather formal) to discuss sth with sb in order to get their permission for sth, or to help you make a decision 指（与某人）商议、商量（以得到许可或帮助决策）：◆You shouldn't have done it without consulting me. 你不该不和我商量就做。

Patterns

• to talk/discuss sth/speak/communicate/debate/consult with sb
• to talk/speak to sb
• to talk/speak to sb/consult sb about sth
• to talk/speak of sth