1. 这是个什么词？
词：central
英英释义：of the greatest importance; principal or essential
例句：China's Reform and Opening Up policy is central to its economic achievements today.
2. 为什么选这个词？
“central”是形容词，意思是“最重要的、必不可少的、核心的”。这个词看起来非常简单，但它后面接介词 to 的用法很多同学并没有掌握。be central to 是个很地道的用法，在《经济学人》中出现的频次非常高，值得我们掌握，自如地用在口语和写作中。下面我们通过几个例子掌握它的用法。
中国今天的经济成就离不开改革开放政策，可以说：
China's Reform and Opening Up policy is central to its economic achievements today.
为他人着想和明确自己的角色是日本文化中的核心价值，可以说：
Thinking of others and knowing one's role are considered as central to Japanese values.
华裔美国总统候选人杨安泽（Andrew Yang）把全民基本收入作为他竞选策略的核心，就可以说：
Universal basic income is central to the campaign of Andrew Yang, a Chinese American presidential candidate.
下面来看《经济学人》中的几个例子：
1）And through it all runs technology: fitness, stress-relief and health apps are now central to the growth of wearable devices such as smart watches.
2）That blend of outlandish achievement and disruptive idiosyncrasy was central to his appeal.（这里说的是得克萨斯州的亿万富翁 Ross Perot）
3）Unlike Russia, China puts its money where its mouth is. Two years ago, China Ocean Shipping Company became a 49% owner of the “dry port” of Khorgos—a vast road-and-rail terminal on the Khazak-Chinese border seen as central to the BRI (the Belt and Road Initiative).
4）Today Japan sees its ability to bounce back after crises as central to what it means to be Japanese, argues David Leheny of Waseda University in Tokyo.
3. 怎样学会使用这个词？
1）翻译下面的句子： 中国人将勤劳和勇敢视为是必不可少的价值观。
（参考翻译：Chinese take diligence and bravery as values that are central to their society. 或 Chinese see diligence and bravery as values that are central to their culture. )
2）结合自己的生活、学习、工作、兴趣等，想象在什么语境下会用到这个表达。先简要描述这个场景，再造句。
例子： 埃及金字塔的辉煌离不开古埃及人的勤劳与智慧。
场景：The glory of Egyptian pyramids is central to ancient Egyptians’ diligence and intelligence.
