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

Saying what a text is about 描述文章的内容

• ◆The book is about homeless people in the cities. 这本书写的是城市中无家可归的人们。
• ◆The report deals with the issue of homelessness in London. 这篇报道是关于伦敦的无家可归问题。
• ◆The writer discusses the problems faced by homeless people. 作者讨论了无家可归者面临的种种问题。
• ◆The article presents an overview of the issues surrounding homelessness. 这篇文章概述了有关无家可归的种种问题。
• ◆The novel explores the theme of friendship among homeless people. 这部小说探究了无家可归者之间的友谊这个主题。
• ◆The first chapter examines the relationship between homelessness and drug addiction. 第一章考察了无家可归与吸毒成瘾之间的关系。
• ◆The paper considers the question of why so many young people become homeless. 这篇论文论述了为何如此多的年轻人变得无家可归的问题。

These words all mean to think about, study or describe sb/sth carefully, especially in order to understand them, form an opinion of them or make a decision about them. 以上各词均含思量、审查、调查、研究之义。

• examine to think about, study or describe an idea, subject or piece of work very carefully 指审查、调查、考查、考察：◆These ideas will be examined in more detail in Chapter 10. 这些观点将在第 10 章作更为详细的探讨。
• analyse/analyze to examine the nature or structure of sth, especially by separating it into its parts, in order to understand or explain it 指分析：◆The job involves gathering and analysing data. 这项工作需要搜集和分析资料。◆He tried to analyse his feelings. 他试图分析自己的感情。
• review to examine sth again, especially so that you can decide if it is necessary to make changes 指复查、检讨，以做必要的修改：◆The government will review the situation later in the year. 政府将在今年晚些时候重新检讨形势。
• study to examine sb/sth in order to understand them or it 指研究、调查：◆We will study the report carefully before making a decision. 我们将认真研究这份报告，然后再作决定。

examine or study? 用 examine 还是 study？

You examine sth in order to understand it or to help other people understand it, for example by describing it in a book; you study sth in order to understand it yourself. 为理解或帮助别人理解某事，如在书中探讨，用 examine；为使自己理解某事，用 study。

• discuss to write or talk about sth in detail, showing the different ideas and opinions about it 指详述、论述：◆This topic will be discussed at greater length in the next chapter. 这个主题将在下一章里详细论述。

Patterns

• to examine/analyse/review/study/discuss what/how/whether…
• to examine/analyse/review/study/discuss the situation/evidence
• to examine/analyse/review/study/discuss sth carefully/critically/systematically/briefly