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Destination C1 > 1. Thinking and learning > Flashcards

1. Thinking and learning Flashcards

1
Q

to judge or decide the amount, value, quality, or importance of something

A

to assess

They assessed the cost of the flood damage at £2,500.

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2
Q

1) to accept something to be true without question or proof (=accept)
2) to take or begin to have responsibility or control, sometimes without the right to do so, or to begin to have a characteristic

A

to assume

Let’s assume that they’re coming and make plans on that basis.

+ She is likely to assume the position of team captain next season.

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3
Q

to cause someone to be completely unable to understand or explain something (=flummox)

A

to baffle

She was completely baffled by his strange behaviour.

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4
Q

showing an unreasonable like or dislike for someone or something based on personal opinions (=one-sided, slanted)

A

biased
/ˈbaɪ.əst/

The newspapers gave a very biased report of the meeting.

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5
Q

to direct your attention or your efforts towards a particular activity, subject, or problem

A

to concentrate

I can’t concentrate on my work with all that noise.

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6
Q

1) to spend time thinking about a possibility or making a decision
2) to give attention to a particular subject or fact when judging something else

A

to consider

Don’t make any decisions before you’ve considered the situation.

1) We’re considering selling the house.
be considered for: She’s being considered for the job.
2) You’ve got to consider the time element when planning the whole project

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7
Q

to spend time considering a possible future action, or to consider one particular thing for a long time in a serious and quiet way (=muse, ponder)

A

to contemplate

I’m contemplating going abroad (a move abroad) for a year.

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8
Q

believing that people are only interested in themselves and are not sincere

A

cynical

I’ve always been deeply cynical about politicians.

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9
Q

to reach an answer or a decision by thinking carefully about the known facts (=infer)

A

to deduce

We cannot deduce very much from these figures.

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10
Q

to think or talk seriously and carefully about something

A

to deliberate

The jury took five days to deliberate on the case.

deliberate - (often of something bad) intentional or planned
a deliberate attack/insult

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11
Q

a situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two different things you could do

A

dilemma

The president is in a dilemma about/over how to tackle the crisis.

She faces the dilemma of disobeying her father or losing the man she loves.

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12
Q

to treat a person or particular group of people differently, especially in a worse way from the way in which you treat other people, because of their race, gender, sexuality, etc.

A

to discriminate

She felt she had been discriminated against because of her age.

to discriminate - to be able to see the difference between two things or people:
Police dogs can discriminate between the different smells.

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13
Q

1) thought not to be completely true or not able to be trusted
2) feeling doubt or not feeling certain

A

dubious

These claims are dubious and not scientifically proven.

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14
Q

to guess or calculate the cost, size, value, etc. of something

A

(to) estimate

Government sources estimate a long-term 50% increase in rail fares.

The number of people who applied for the course was 120 compared with an initial estimate of between 50 and 100.

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15
Q

great trust or confidence in something or someone

A

faith

She has no faith in modern medicine.

After the trial, his family said they had lost all faith in the judicial system.

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16
Q

1) to collect several things, often from different places or people

A

to gather

I went to several libraries to gather information about the plans.

gather up: She gathered up the newspapers that were scattered around the floor.
gather speed, strength, momentum

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17
Q

very great and rare natural ability or skill, especially in a particular area such as science or art, or a person who has this

A

genius

Einstein was a (mathematical) genius.

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18
Q

to understand something, especially something difficult

A

to grasp

I think I managed to grasp the main points of the lecture.

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19
Q

the process of making a guess when you do not know all the facts

A

guesswork

The projected sales figures are pure guesswork on our part.

a shot in the dark

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20
Q

an idea that is based on feeling and for which there is no proof

A

hunch

I had a hunch that you’d be here.

act on/follow a hunch: Sometimes you have to be prepared to act on/follow a hunch.

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21
Q

a set of beliefs or principles, especially one on which a political system, party, or organization is based

A

ideology

The people are caught between two opposing ideologies.

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22
Q

(of a person) very intelligent and skilful, or (of a thing) skilfully made or planned and involving new ideas and methods

A

ingenious

She devised an ingenious solution to the problem.

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23
Q

a sudden good idea

A

inspiration

He had an inspiration - why not apply for some government money?

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24
Q

(knowledge from) an ability to understand or know something immediately based on your feelings rather than facts

A

intuition

I just had an intuition that you’d been involved in an accident.

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25
Q

1) to give or to be a good reason for
2) to provide an acceptable explanation

A

to justify

I can’t really justify taking another day off work.

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26
Q

too ready to believe someone or something, or to trust that someone’s intentions are good, esp. because of a lack of experience

A

naïve

It was a little naive of you to think that they would listen to you.

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27
Q

a belief or idea (=concept)

A

notion

I have only a vague notion of what she does for a living.

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28
Q

hoping or believing that good things will happen in the future

A

optimistic

She is optimistic about her chances of winning a gold medal.

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29
Q

a situation or statement that seems impossible or is difficult to understand because it contains two opposite facts or characteristics (=contradiction)

A

paradox

It’s a paradox that drinking a lot of water can make you feel thirsty.

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30
Q

seeming likely to be true, or able to be believed

A

plausible

a plausible explanation/excuse

A plausible person appears to be honest and telling the truth, even if they are not

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31
Q

to think carefully about something, especially for a noticeable length of time
(=to think of deeeply, to consider thoroughly)

A

to ponder

She sat back for a minute to ponder her next move in the game.

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32
Q

1) showing an unreasonable dislike for something or someone
2) influenced by personal opinion

A

prejudiced

The campaign is designed to make people less prejudiced about AIDS.

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33
Q

to believe something to be true because it is very likely, although you are not certain
(=take for granted, to assume to be true)

A

to presume

The boat’s captain is missing, presumed dead.

I presume (that) they’re not coming, since they haven’t replied to the invitation.

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34
Q

a question, often one expressing doubt about something or looking for information
(=question, inquiry)

A

query
/ˈkwɪə.ri/

If you’ve any queries about your treatment, the doctor will answer them.

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35
Q

to consider or have the opinion that something is as stated

A

to reckon

I reckon it’s going to rain.

She was widely reckoned (to be) the best actress of her generation.

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36
Q

to think carefully, especially about possibilities and opinions

A

to reflect

The manager demanded time to reflect (on what to do)

37
Q

doubting that something is true or useful

A

sceptical

Many experts remain sceptical about/of his claims.

38
Q

to guess possible answers to a question when you do not have enough information to be certain

A

to speculate

A spokesperson declined to speculate on the cause of the train crash

38
Q

to think that something is likely to be true

A

to suppose

He found it more difficult to get a job than he supposed it would be.

Suppose - used at the beginning of a sentence or clause to mean ‘what would happen if’:
We’d love to come and see you on Saturday, supposing (= if) I don’t have to work that day.

39
Q

the fact of putting things that are not similar next to each other (=comparison)

A

juxtaposition
/ˌdʒʌk.stə.pəˈzɪʃ.ən/

The juxtaposition of two very different cultures

40
Q

1) used to describe someone who is clever and enjoys studying
2) someone who teaches at a college, or who studies as part of their job

A

academic

I was never a particularly academic child.

a purely academic argument/question

41
Q

1) putting a lot of effort into your work
(=painstaking)
2)feeling a moral responsibility to do your work carefully and to be fair to others

A

conscientious
/ˌkɒn.ʃiˈen.ʃəs/

She was a conscientious worker, and I’ll miss her

42
Q

1) to do many things in a short period of time
2) to try to learn a lot very quickly before an exam

A

to cram

She’s cramming for her history exam.

43
Q

the subjects studied in a school, college, etc. and what each subject includes

A

curriculum

the school curriculum

44
Q

a way of studying in which you do not attend a school, college, or university, but study from where you live, usually being taught and given work to do over the internet

A

distance learning

They offer advanced degrees through distance learning.

45
Q

1) a person who has a first degree from a university or college
2) to complete a first university degree successfully

A

(to) graduate

Chris is a physics graduate.

46
Q

not having enough knowledge, understanding, or information about something (=clueless, benighted (lit.))

A

ignorant

Many teenagers are surprisingly ignorant about current politics.

We remained blissfully ignorant of the troubles that lay ahead.

47
Q

inattentive

A

not giving attention to someone or something

He was wholly inattentive to the needs of his children.

48
Q

1) relating to your ability to think and understand things, especially complicated ideas
2) very educated and interested in studying and other activities that involve careful thinking and mental effort

A

intellectual

I like detective stories and romances - nothing too intellectual.

She was more intellectual than her husband, and much better read.

49
Q

involving a lot of effort or activity in a short period of time

A

intensive

Intensive bombing had reduced the city to rubble.

Intensive study or training deals with a lot of information in a short period of time

50
Q

knowing a lot (smart)

A

knowledgeable

He’s very knowledgeable about German literature.

51
Q

1) to give a formal talk to a group of people, often at a college or university
2) to talk angrily or seriously to someone in order to criticize their behaviour
3) a formal talk on a serious subject given to a group of people, especially students

A

(to) lecture

We went to a lecture on Italian art.

My dad gave me a lecture on the evils of alcohol last night.

52
Q

an examination you take for practice before an important examination

A

mock exam

We’ve got our mock GCSE exams next month

53
Q

to use another person’s ideas or work and pretend that it is your own

A

to plagiarise

The book contains numerous plagiarized passages.

54
Q

a way of learning about a subject that involves studying alone at home, rather than in a classroom with a teacher

A

self-study

self-study materials/workbooks/programs

The diploma is awarded following a course of self-study ending in a three-hour exam.

55
Q

an occasion when a teacher or expert and a group of people meet to study and discuss something

A

seminar

I attended practically every lecture and seminar when I was a student.

56
Q

the particular things needed by or provided to help people who have an illness or condition that makes it difficult for them to do the things that other people do

A

special needs

carers for children with special needs

+ the people included in this group, for example within the educational system: a special needs child

57
Q

1) teaching, especially when given to a small group or one person, such as in a college or university
2) the money paid for this type of teaching

A

tuition

All students receive tuition in logic and metaphysics.

Few can afford the tuition of $12,000 a semester.

58
Q

a period of study with a tutor involving one student or a small group

A

tutorial

Students only have 8 hours of tutorials a week.

59
Q

to improve your knowledge of something already learned but partly forgotten

A

brush up (on) something

I thought I’d brush up (on) my French before going to Paris.

60
Q

to change your opinion of something, often influenced by another person’s opinion

A

come (a)round to

He’ll come round to my point of view, given a bit of time.

61
Q

to suggest or think of an idea or plan

A

come up with something

She’s come up with some amazing scheme to double her income.

62
Q

to accept that a difficult situation exists

A

to accept that a difficult situation exists

She’s going to have to face up to the fact that he’s not going to marry.

63
Q

to finally understand something or someone, or find the solution to a problem after a lot of thought:

A

figure smth/smn out

I find him really odd - I can’t figure him out at all.

64
Q

to think of an idea when you didn’t expect or intend to, especially one that solves a problem

A

hit on/upon something

When we first hit on the idea, everyone told us it would never work.

65
Q

1) to see, hear, or understand something or someone with difficulty
2) to say, usually falsely, that something is true

A

1) make something/someone out
2) make out something

The numbers are too small - I can’t make them out at all.

The British weather is not always as bad as it is made out to be.

66
Q

to think carefully about something for a long time (phr v)

A

mull something over

I need a few days to mull things over before I decide if I’m taking it.

67
Q

learn the truth about something by considering all the separate bits of information you have

A

piece something together

Investigators are piecing together what happened before the accident.

68
Q

to discover or understand something by thinking hard about it

A

puzzle something out

I can’t puzzle out how I managed to spend so much money last month.

69
Q

to spend time reading in order to find out information about something

A

read up (on/about) something

It’s a good idea to read up on a company before going for an interview.

70
Q

to learn as much as you can about a subject, especially before an exam

A

swot up (on something)

She’s at home, swotting up on her maths.

71
Q

to understand completely the meaning or importance of something

A

take something in

I had to read the letter twice before I could take it all in.

72
Q

to consider an idea or plan carefully before making a decision

A

think something over

I’ll think it over and give you an answer next week.

73
Q

consider the facts about something in an organised and thorough way

A

think something through

We have to think through the different possibilities.

74
Q

to produce a new idea or plan

A

think something up

I don’t want to go tonight but I can’t think up a good excuse.

75
Q

If something … , it makes that person think that they are very important and makes them a less pleasant person

A

go to someone’s head (idiom)

Don’t let fame/success go to your head.

76
Q

to be ready to think quickly in a situation and react to things that you are not expecting

A

have/keep (all) your wits about you (idiom)

Cycling is potentially very dangerous in the city - you have to keep your wits about you.

77
Q

intelligence and the ability to think quickly

A

wits

She learned to survive on her wits.

She was on her own and had to live by her wits.

78
Q

not informed about things that might be useful to know (idiom)

A

in the dark (about smth)

Our boss tends to keep us in the dark most of the time.

79
Q

If you … , you have a lot of experience and can judge people and situations well (idiom)

A

know what’s what

Linda’s been in the business for 30 years - she knows what’s what.

80
Q

to be in a situation in which you cannot prove something (idiom)

A

not have a leg to stand on

If you have no witnesses, you don’t have a leg to stand on.

81
Q

to be unable to get a general understanding of a situation because you are too worried about the details (idiom)

A

not see the wood for the trees

82
Q

a person or group of people with less power, money, etc. than the rest of society

A

underdog

As a politician, her sympathy was always for the underdog in society.

83
Q

to guess the truth about a situation from what you have seen or heard (idiom)

A

put two and two together

“How did you know they were having an affair?” “I’d seen them out together a couple of times, so I just put two and two together.”

84
Q

If someone is quick/slow on the uptake, they understand things easily/with difficulty (idiom)

A

be quick/slow on the uptake

He’s a little slow on the uptake, so you may have to repeat the instructions a few times.

85
Q

to sound familiar (idiom)

A

ring a bell

The name rang a bell but I couldn’t remember where I had heard it before

86
Q

to make someone very bored or very angry/crazy (idiom)

A

drive someone around the bend

My mother’s been driving me around the bend.

87
Q

to argue about small details of something (idiom)

A

split hairs

88
Q

to examine a situation carefully (idiom)

A

take stock (of something)

After the storm homeowners came out to take stock of the damage.

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