Unit 2: THINKING AND LEARNING

assess (v)

MEANING:
make a judgement = evaluate, appraise
calculate the amount/value = estimate, measure
USE:

+question word
+at + price

assume (v)

MEANING:

to accept st is true without any proofs = presume
to take/begin to have control/responsibility = take on
to begin to have a particular quality
USE:
+that
+to V0
+control/responsibility

baffle (v)

to confuse sb completely = bewilder, perplex, confuse, confound

biased (adj)

MEANING:
show an unreasonable dislike/like toward sb/st from personal opinion = prejudiced, partial
USE:
+against sb/st
+in favour of sb/st

concentrate (v)

MEANING:
to focus all your attention on st = focus
to bring/gather things into one place = gather
to increase the strength of a substance = condense
USE:
+on st
+the mind: helps thinking

consider (v)

MEANING:
to think carefully about st before making a decision = ponder, contemplate
to think of sb/st in a particular way = regard, view

estimate (n)

an approximately calculation

estimate (v)

to roughly calculate or judge = gauge, approximate

contemplate(v)

MEANING:
to think deeply about st for a long time = ponder, reflex
to look at st thoughtfully for a long time = observe, gaze

USE:
+V-ing

cynical (adj)

MEANING:
distrustful of human sincerity/integrity = distrustful, skeptical/sceptical
doubtful as to whether st will happen/whether it is worth while = doubtful, suspicious
USE:
+view
+about st

deduce(v)

MEANING:
to reach conclusion about st by reasoning from known facts = conclude, infer
USE:
+st from st
+that

deliberate (v)

MEANING":
to consider st very carefully = ponder, consider
USE:
+on st
+question word

deliberate (adj)

MEANING:
(BAD) intentional, planned
USE:
+action/movement/thought: done carefully without hurrying

dilemma (n)

a difficult choice between two options = quandary, predicament

USE:
+of st or st else
+face a x of st or st else
+over/about st
+moral/ethical x

discriminate(v)

MEANING:
to recognize a difference = distinguish, differentiate
to treat sb unfairly based on difference

USE:
+be xed against + NOTHING
+ in favour of st
+between st
+on the basis of st/ on the ground of st

dubious (adj)

MEANING:
doubtful/uncertain
unreliable/suspicious

USE:
+about
+distinction of st = bad distinction of st

faith (n)

MEANING:
strong belief/trust in st/sb = trust, confidence

religious belief = belief, creed

USE:
+have/lose x in st
+great x in st
+restore sb’s x in st
+practice one’s x
+multi-x society

gather(v)

MEANING:
to bring/collect together = collect
to understand/believe st from known facts = deduce, conclude

USE:
+up st
+st together
+sb in st
+speed/strength/momentum: to become faster, stronger,.etc
+(up) strength/courage to V0: to prepare to make a great effort to be strong/brave
+one’s self: to feel calm again; to ready to do st, esp after a shock

gather one’s wits

to make an effort to become calm and think more carefully = regather one’s wits

gather dust

to not be used in a long time
to be forgotten

genius (n)

MEANING:
a person with exceptional ability = prodigy, mastermind

USE:
+a stroke of x: a brilliant idea
+evil x: a person who has a strong bad influence over the people
+have a x for st

ingenious (adj)

MEANING:
(person) very intelligent, skillfull = clever
(object) skillfully made/planned, involving new ideas and methods = cunning

grasp (v)

MEANING:
take hold of st firmly = grip, clutch
to understand st fully = understand, comprehend

USE:
+an opportunity: take that opportunity eagerly
+at st: to try to take an opportunity/ to try to take st
+the nettle: to force one’s self to be brave and do st that is difficult/unpleasant

grasp (n)

MEANING:
the act of holding st
the ability to achieve, get, keep st
understanding

USE:
+have a (good) x of st
+within/beyond sb’s x
+slip from sb’s x
+lose one’s x on st

grasping at straws

trying to find some way to succeed when nothing you choose is likely to work
trying to find a reason to feel hopeful in a bad situation