时尚英语话题 14

 　　14 Self-improvement¹-upgrating your life
If you are given some money to fix up your residence², your apartment or house,what would you do?Would you get some new wall-paper?would you get some new light fixtures³? would you get some new furniture? these kinds of things are called home improvements⁴.
If you are given time and money to upgrate yourself, what would you do?learning⁵ a new language?exercise more?buy some new shoes?go on a diet?take up a new hobby?take sing lessons?what do you think about self-improvement?
I love trying to do new things, or learning new skills, I love the feelings of learning something new, it makes me feel like I am a complete person. and it doesn't have to be something big either, it could be something small, but still important.For example, I have been thinking about going to the dentist for a long time,but I get up to courage and actually went the other day. It was nice to finally have my teeth cleaned.
Anyway, these things are all related⁶ to self-improvement.
Is there anything at the top of your list of things to do to improve yourself?
Talk about it:
1)what would you like to improve by yourself?
2)what can you do to upgrate your life?
3)It's self-improvement always expensive?
4)what are some low cost ways to improve yourself?
5)Do you have any relationships that could be improved?
6)How could you improve your home?
7)Is there anything you can do to improve your health?
8)what do you think of self-help books? have you ever read one?
9)Do you often think of ways to improve yourself?

1 self-improvement   

n.自我改善；自我修养

参考例句：

• Reading is meantime a process of self-study and self-improvement.同时，阅读又是一种自主学习、自我提高的过程。
• Only through self-improvement can one be respected by others.只有自强，才能受到别人的尊重。

2 residence   

n.住处，住宅；居住，(合法)居住资格

参考例句：

• They are only allowed one month's residence.他们获准只逗留一个月。
• He took up residence in Australia.他去澳大利亚居住。

3 fixtures   

（房屋等的）固定装置( fixture的名词复数 )； 如（浴盆、抽水马桶）； 固定在某位置的人或物； （定期定点举行的）体育活动

参考例句：

• The insurance policy covers the building and any fixtures contained therein. 保险单为这座大楼及其中所有的设施保了险。
• The fixtures had already been sold and the sum divided. 固定设备已经卖了，钱也分了。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

4 improvements   

增加或修改( improvement的名词复数 )； 改进； 改善； 改良

参考例句：

• improvements in efficiency at the factory 工厂效率的提高
• They've spent a lot of money on home improvements. 他们花了很多钱装修家居。

5 learning   

n.学问，学识，学习；动词learn的现在分词

参考例句：

• When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时，常会从车上掉下来。
• Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。

6 related   

adj.有关系的，有关联的，叙述的，讲述的

参考例句：

• I am not related to him in any way.我和他无任何关系。
• We spent days going through all related reference material.我们花了好多天功夫查阅所有有关的参考资料。