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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
1) to give or to be a good reason for 2) to provide an acceptable explanation
to justify | I can't really justify taking another day off work.
26
too ready to believe someone or something, or to trust that someone’s intentions are good, esp. because of a lack of experience
naïve | It was a little naive of you to think that they would listen to you.
27
a belief or idea (=concept)
notion | I have only a vague notion of what she does for a living.
28
hoping or believing that good things will happen in the future
optimistic | She is optimistic about her chances of winning a gold medal.
29
a situation or statement that seems impossible or is difficult to understand because it contains two opposite facts or characteristics (=contradiction)
paradox | It's a paradox that drinking a lot of water can make you feel thirsty.
30
seeming likely to be true, or able to be believed
plausible | a plausible explanation/excuse ## Footnote A plausible person appears to be honest and telling the truth, even if they are not
31
to think carefully about something, especially for a noticeable length of time (=to think of deeeply, to consider thoroughly)
to ponder | She sat back for a minute to ponder her next move in the game.
32
1) showing an unreasonable dislike for something or someone 2) influenced by personal opinion
prejudiced | The campaign is designed to make people less **prejudiced about** AIDS.
33
to believe something to be true because it is very likely, although you are not certain (=take for granted, to assume to be true)
to presume | The boat's captain is missing, presumed dead. ## Footnote I presume (that) they're not coming, since they haven't replied to the invitation.
34
a question, often one expressing doubt about something or looking for information (=question, inquiry)
query /ˈkwɪə.ri/ | If you've any queries about your treatment, the doctor will answer them.
35
to consider or have the opinion that something is as stated
to reckon | I reckon it's going to rain. ## Footnote She **was** widely **reckoned (to be)** the best actress of her generation.
36
to think carefully, especially about possibilities and opinions
to reflect | The manager demanded time to reflect (**on** what to do)
37
doubting that something is true or useful
sceptical | Many experts remain sceptical **about/of** his claims.
38
to guess possible answers to a question when you do not have enough information to be certain
to speculate | A spokesperson declined to speculate **on** the cause of the train crash
38
to think that something is likely to be true
to suppose | He found it more difficult to get a job than he supposed it would be. ## Footnote 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
the fact of putting things that are not similar next to each other (=comparison)
juxtaposition /ˌdʒʌk.stə.pəˈzɪʃ.ən/ | The juxtaposition of two very different cultures
40
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
academic | I was never a particularly academic child. ## Footnote a purely academic argument/question
41
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
conscientious /ˌkɒn.ʃiˈen.ʃəs/ | She was a conscientious worker, and I’ll miss her
42
1) to do many things in a short period of time 2) to try to learn a lot very quickly before an exam
to cram | She's cramming for her history exam.
43
the subjects studied in a school, college, etc. and what each subject includes
curriculum | the school curriculum
44
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
distance learning | They offer advanced degrees through distance learning.
45
1) a person who has a first degree from a university or college 2) to complete a first university degree successfully
(to) graduate | Chris is a physics graduate.
46
not having enough knowledge, understanding, or information about something (=clueless, benighted (lit.))
ignorant | Many teenagers are **surprisingly ignorant** about current politics. ## Footnote We remained **blissfully ignorant** of the troubles that lay ahead.
47
inattentive
not giving attention to someone or something | He was wholly inattentive to the needs of his children.
48
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
intellectual | I like detective stories and romances - nothing too intellectual. ## Footnote She was more intellectual than her husband, and much better read.
49
involving a lot of effort or activity in a short period of time
intensive | Intensive bombing had reduced the city to rubble. ## Footnote Intensive study or training deals with a lot of information in a short period of time
50
knowing a lot (smart)
knowledgeable | He's very knowledgeable about German literature.
51
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
(to) lecture | We went to a lecture on Italian art. ## Footnote My dad gave me a lecture on the evils of alcohol last night.
52
an examination you take for practice before an important examination
mock exam | We've got our mock GCSE exams next month
53
to use another person's ideas or work and pretend that it is your own
to plagiarise | The book contains numerous plagiarized passages.
54
a way of learning about a subject that involves studying alone at home, rather than in a classroom with a teacher
self-study | self-study materials/workbooks/programs ## Footnote The diploma is awarded following a course of self-study ending in a three-hour exam.
55
an occasion when a teacher or expert and a group of people meet to study and discuss something
seminar | I attended practically every lecture and seminar when I was a student.
56
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
special needs | carers for children with special needs ## Footnote + the people included in this group, for example within the educational system: a special needs child
57
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
tuition | All students receive tuition in logic and metaphysics. ## Footnote Few can afford the tuition of $12,000 a semester.
58
a period of study with a tutor involving one student or a small group
tutorial | Students only have 8 hours of tutorials a week.
59
to improve your knowledge of something already learned but partly forgotten
brush up (on) something | I thought I'd brush up (on) my French before going to Paris.
60
to change your opinion of something, often influenced by another person's opinion
come (a)round to | He'll come round to my point of view, given a bit of time.
61
to suggest or think of an idea or plan
come up with something | She's come up with some amazing scheme to double her income.
62
to accept that a difficult situation exists
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
to finally understand something or someone, or find the solution to a problem after a lot of thought:
figure smth/smn out | I find him really odd - I can't figure him out at all.
64
to think of an idea when you didn't expect or intend to, especially one that solves a problem
hit on/upon something | When we first hit on the idea, everyone told us it would never work.
65
1) to see, hear, or understand something or someone with difficulty 2) to say, usually falsely, that something is true
1) make something/someone out 2) make out something | The numbers are too small - I can't make them out at all. ## Footnote The British weather is not always as bad as it is made out to be.
66
to think carefully about something for a long time (phr v)
mull something over | I need a few days to mull things over before I decide if I'm taking it.
67
learn the truth about something by considering all the separate bits of information you have
piece something together | Investigators are piecing together what happened before the accident.
68
to discover or understand something by thinking hard about it
puzzle something out | I can't puzzle out how I managed to spend so much money last month.
69
to spend time reading in order to find out information about something
read up (on/about) something | It's a good idea to read up on a company before going for an interview.
70
to learn as much as you can about a subject, especially before an exam
swot up (on something) | She's at home, swotting up on her maths.
71
to understand completely the meaning or importance of something
take something in | I had to read the letter twice before I could take it all in.
72
to consider an idea or plan carefully before making a decision
think something over | I'll think it over and give you an answer next week.
73
consider the facts about something in an organised and thorough way
think something through | We have to think through the different possibilities.
74
to produce a new idea or plan
think something up | I don't want to go tonight but I can't think up a good excuse.
75
If something ... , it makes that person think that they are very important and makes them a less pleasant person
go to someone's head (idiom) | Don't let fame/success go to your head.
76
to be ready to think quickly in a situation and react to things that you are not expecting
have/keep (all) your wits about you (idiom) ## Footnote Cycling is potentially very dangerous in the city - you have to keep your wits about you.
77
intelligence and the ability to think quickly
wits | She learned to survive on her wits. ## Footnote She was on her own and had to live by her wits.
78
not informed about things that might be useful to know (idiom)
in the dark (about smth) | Our boss tends to keep us in the dark most of the time.
79
If you ... , you have a lot of experience and can judge people and situations well (idiom)
know what's what | Linda's been in the business for 30 years - she knows what's what.
80
to be in a situation in which you cannot prove something (idiom)
not have a leg to stand on | If you have no witnesses, you don't have a leg to stand on.
81
to be unable to get a general understanding of a situation because you are too worried about the details (idiom)
not see the wood for the trees
82
a person or group of people with less power, money, etc. than the rest of society
underdog | As a politician, her sympathy was always for the underdog in society.
83
to guess the truth about a situation from what you have seen or heard (idiom)
put two and two together ## Footnote "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
If someone is quick/slow on the uptake, they understand things easily/with difficulty (idiom)
be quick/slow on the uptake ## Footnote He's a little slow on the uptake, so you may have to repeat the instructions a few times.
85
to sound familiar (idiom)
ring a bell | The name rang a bell but I couldn't remember where I had heard it before
86
to make someone very bored or very angry/crazy (idiom)
drive someone around the bend | My mother's been driving me around the bend.
87
to argue about small details of something (idiom)
split hairs
88
to examine a situation carefully (idiom)
take stock (of something) | After the storm homeowners came out to take stock of the damage.

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