persist 本意“坚持”， 它还可以表示 sth unpleasant continues to exist. 其实这两个意思都有很大的共通之处，“坚持”是持续做某事的品质，而第二层意思是某种不好的东西或问题持续不断。
The West seems set on a different course from the rest of the world, especially Asia, where traditional attitudes persist.
这里用 persist 搭配 traditional attitudes，来形容传统态度的根深蒂固。这种语境下，我们也可以用 deep-rooted, endure, continue ，take hold(表示一种长期存在或愈演愈烈的情况), be here to stay(一般形容某种潮流或科技成为时尚或持续下去)替换。
attempts to do sth persist, 这一句式可以理解为“人们总是/一直做...”:
Attempts to cheat in the exam persist among college students.
再比如，总有一些人想把共享单车据为己有，我们可以说：
Attempts to take possession of sharing bicycles persist among some citizens.
另外，我们也可以用 persist 和问题搭配，表示问题难以根除，比如：
Corruption in the Indian government persists.
印度政府腐败现象难以根除。
或者直接用其形容词
p 来表示，
A major problem in China is that child kidnapping has been persistent.
可以形容某种疾病症状持续存在
Please go to see a doctor if your cough persists.
