Unit 2: Thinking & Learning

assess (v)

(1) make a judgment - đánh giá ~ evaluate, appraise

eg: The coach will assess the player’s performance.

(2) calculate the amount/value - ước tính ~ estimate, measure

eg: The engineer assessed the repair costs.

assume (v)

(1) to accept something to be true without question or proof - cho rằng điều gì đó đúng mà không cần chứng minh ~ presume

eg: I assumed he was busy, so I didn't call him.

(2) to take or begin to have responsibility or control - đảm nhận trách nhiệm hoặc kiểm soát ~ take on

eg: She will assume the role of manager next month.

(3) to begin to have a particular quality or experience - bắt đầu có một đặc điểm cụ thể

eg: The problem has assumed great importance recently.

baffle (v)

(v) to confuse someone completely - làm ai đó bối rối hoàn toàn ~ bewilder /bɪˈwɪldər/, confuse, perplex, confound

eg: The police were baffled by the attacker’s motive

→ motive (n) động cơ

biased (a)

(a) show an unreasonable like or dislike for something based on personal opinions = thiên vị hoặc có thành kiến - prejudiced, partial

eg: The judge was biased in favor of the defendant (Thẩm phán đã thiên vị bên bị cáo)

concentrate (v)

(1) to focus all your attention on something - tập trung toàn bộ sự chú ý vào điều gì đó - focus

eg: She tried to concentrate on her work

(2) to bring or gather things together in one place - gom lại hoặc tập hợp mọi thứ vào một nơi - gather

eg: The company concentrated its resources in one project

(3) to increase the strength of a substance - cô đặc, cô đọng - condense

eg: The juice was concentrated by boiling off the water

consider (v)

(1) to think carefully about something before making a decision - cân nhắc kỹ lưỡng, xem xét - contemplate, ponder

eg: You should consider other people’s feelings

(2) to think of someone or something in a particular way - coi ai hay cái gì theo cách nào - regard, view

eg: He is considered a hero

contemplate (v)

(1) to think deeply about something for a long time - suy ngẫm lâu dài về điều gì đó - ponder, reflect

eg: She contemplated the meaning of life

(2) to look at something thoughtfully for a long time

eg: He contemplated the painting for hours

cynical (a)

(1) distrustful of human sincerity or integrity - hoài nghi - skeptical, distrustful

eg: He’s always cynical about politicians

(2) doubtful as to whether something will happen or whether it is worthwhile - nghi ngờ liệu điều gì có xảy ra hay có đáng hay không - doubtful, suspicious

eg: She’s cynical about the company’s new plan

→ worthwhile (a) important, pleasant, interesting, etc.; worth spending time, money or effort on

deduce (v)

to reach a conclusion about something by reasoning from known facts - suy luận, rút ra - infer, conclude

eg: The detective deduced from the footprints that the thief had entered through the window

deliberate (v)

to consider something very carefully - suy nghĩ thấu đáo, cân nhắc - consider, ponder

eg: The jury deliberated for five days before reaching a verdict (Ban bồi thẩm đã cân nhắc trong năm ngày trước khi đưa ra phán quyết)

dilemma (n)

a difficult choice between two options - tình huống khó xử - quandary, predicament

eg: She faced a dilemma about accepting the job

discriminate (v)

(1) to recognize a difference - phân biệt sự khác nhau - differentiate, distinguish

eg: It’s hard to discriminate between the twins

(2) to treat someone unfairly based on difference - phân biệt đối xử bất công

eg: The law prohibits discriminating against employees based on age

dubious (a)

(1) doubtful or uncertain - nghi ngờ hoặc không chắc chắn - doubtful, uncertain

eg: I was dubious about the idea

(2) unreliable, suspicious - khả nghi - suspicious, questionable

eg: The evidence was dubious