Destination C1 & C2: Unit 2 Vocabulary

A complete set of vocabulary flashcards for terms found in the Thinking topic section of the Destination C1 & C2 text.

assess (v)

to carefully consider a situation, person or problem in order to make a judgment; to calculate what something costs or is worth

assume (v)

to believe that something is true, even though no one has told you or even though you have no proof

baffle (v)

if a problem, someone's behaviour, etc baffles you, you cannot understand it or solve it

biased (adj)

preferring one person, thing or idea to another in a way that is unfair

concentrate (v)

to give all your attention to the thing you are doing

consider (v)

to think about something carefully before making a decision or developing an opinion; to have a particular opinion about someone or something

contemplate (v)

to consider doing something in the future; to think very carefully about something for a long time

cynical (adj)

believing that people care only about themselves and are not sincere or honest, or expecting things not to be successful or useful

deduce (v)

to know something as a result of considering the information or evidence that you have

deliberate (v)

to think about or discuss something very carefully, especially before you make an important decision

dilemma (n)

a situation in which you have to make a difficult decision

discriminate (v)

to treat someone unfairly because of their religion, race or other personal features; to recognise the difference between things

dubious (adj)

not completely good, safe or honest; not sure about the truth or quality of something

estimate (n)

an amount that you guess or calculate using the information available; a statement telling a customer how much money you will charge

estimate (v)

to say what you think an amount or value will be, either by guessing or by using available information to calculate it

faith (n)

strong belief in or trust of someone or something

gather (v)

to believe that something is true, although no one has directly told you about it

genius (n)

someone who is much more intelligent or skilful than other people; a very high level of skill or ability

grasp (v)

to understand something

guesswork (n)

the process of trying to find the answer to something by guessing, or the answer found by using this method

hunch (n)

a feeling that something is true or will happen, although you do not know any definite facts about it

ideology (n)

a system of ideas and principles on which a political or economic theory is based

ingenious (adj)

an ingenious plan, piece of equipment, etc uses new and clever ideas

inspiration (n)

a sudden feeling of enthusiasm or a new idea that helps you to do or create something

intuition (n)

an ability to know or understand something through your feelings, rather than by considering facts or evidence

justify (v)

to show that there is a good reason for something, especially something that other people think is wrong

naïve (adj)

lacking experience of life and tending to trust other people and believe things too easily

notion (n)

an idea or understanding of something

optimistic (adj)

hopeful about the future and tending to expect that good things will happen; based on beliefs that are too confident

paradox (n)

a person, thing or situation that is strange because they have features or qualities that do not normally exist together

pessimistic (adj)

not hopeful about the future and tending to expect that bad things will happen; thinking that the worst thing will happen in every situation

plausible (adj)

likely to be true, honest or suitable

ponder (v)

to think carefully about something for a long time before reaching a decision

prejudiced (adj)

having an unreasonable opinion or feeling about someone or something, especially hatred or fear of a particular group of people

presume (v)

to think something is true because it is likely, although you cannot be certain

query (n)

a question that you ask because you want information or because you are not certain about something

query (v)

to ask a question about something because you have doubts about it; to ask something

reckon (v)

to believe that something is true

reflect (v)

to think about something carefully and seriously

sceptical/skeptical (adj)

having doubts about something that other people think is true or right

speculate (v)

to consider or discuss why something has happened

suppose (v)

to believe that something is probably true, based on your experience, your knowledge and any other information that you have