英语日常会话：女性领导地位[含声频]

来自世界不同地方的六位学生在美国相遇。他们都是交换学生，到美国大学就读一个学期，学习英语，了解美国文化，同时修专业课程。英语“日常会话” (Everyday Conversations)系列围绕这六位学生在美国的经历展开。这套材料适于中级或中级以上英语水平的学生使用。

在这个对话中，三个学生（Lucía, Ajay, and Jana）谈到领导作用，特别是女性在世界各地的领导地位。

Lucía: Studying for this political science exam is driving me crazy!

Jana: Relax. Ajay and I were planning to take a study break, so we can help you study.

Ajay: Yeah, of course. What do you need to know for the exam?

Lucía: Well, at the moment, I’m learning that women leaders of countries are rare.

Ajay: I mean, I knew there were fewer female leaders than men, but how rare?

Lucía: Of all the elected heads of state in the world, less than 10 percent are women.

Jana: Less than 10 percent? That’s a terribly low percentage.

Ajay: I don’t understand why more women aren’t elected. Women have excellent leadership qualities.

Jana: Yeah, we do! For example, I can definitely multitask. And when I’m working on an engineering project, I have to collaborate. Those are both qualities that leaders should have.

Lucía: Absolutely. And you’ve seen me on the soccer field, so you know I’m strategic and decisive.

Jana: Also excellent qualities for leaders. And women also have grit. So many women have fought for what they believe in, even in the face of opposition.

Ajay: You didn’t have to convince me. I think both of you would make fantastic leaders. Wait, aren’t both of you leaders of clubs on campus?

让我们来学习一些词语（也可阅读英文解释）：

在这个对话中，“driving me crazy” 的意思是“让我感到烦恼或沮丧”。

A study break：学习间歇，即学生放下学习从事其他活动的时候

A head of state：国家首脑，国家领导人；An elected head of state ：民选国家领导人

To elect ：选举

 Leadership qualities：领导素质，领导才能

To multitask：同时从事多项工作或数件事情

To collaborate：合作，指与其他人为达到一个共同目标而一起努力

Strategic：战略上的

To be decisive：果断

Grit：勇气，坚毅

词组 in the face of opposition 的意思是，在面对反对意见的情况下或在面对阻力的时候

在这个对话中， wait 是wait a minute/second/moment的简略说法，即等一等，等一下，可以表示说话人刚刚记起或想起了某事。

美国高等院校中常会有各种俱乐部，例如体育俱乐部，某种业余爱好的俱乐部，等等。

有兴趣听更多英语对话吗？请浏览“英语学习”专题网页。