meaning

[Atchan]

What is the meaning of these highlighted terms?
The blue color is about meaning...
The red color is about choice...

1) We cannot stand still because there is too much at stake.
2) A whole rash of problems has (can I use have instead of has?) descended upon the human race.

[Tdol]

1 at stake = too much at risk- we could lose a lot if we stand still
2 There are varying views of this; some argue that it should be singular to agree with the true subject, while others argue that the proximity of the plural noun to the verb means that the plural sounds better. The plural sounds OK to me- in British English we often use plurals this way.

[Atchan]

Thank you very much with your help. I hope to be an administrator in the future .