Quiz 2 Flashcards
interaction
(v.) to talk or do things with other people, or to act together
Example: She interacts with other children at nursery school. When these two drugs interact (with each other), the results can be deadly.
subjective
(adj.) based on feelings or opinions rather than facts
Example: Personal taste in clothing is very subjective.
interpretation
(n.) the way something is explained or understood
Example: We did not agree with his interpretation [=explanation] of the results. There were many interpretations of [=many ways to interpret] his behavior.
confusion
(n.) a situation in which people are uncertain about what to do or are unable to understand something clearly
Example: The detour caused much confusion. [=the detour confused many people; the detour made many people uncertain about which roads to use]. There is still some confusion as to the time of the meeting.
acknowledge
(v.) to say that you accept or do not deny the truth or existence of (something) : admit
Examples: They acknowledged that the decision was a mistake.
Do you acknowledge that you caused this mess?
perception
(n.) the way you think about or understand someone or something — often + of
Examples: People’s perceptions of this town have changed radically.
objective
(adj.) based on facts rather than feelings or opinions
Example: Scientists must be objective. It’s hard to be objective [=fair, unbiased] about my own family.
grasp
(v.) to understand (something that is complicated or difficult)
Examples: They failed to grasp [=comprehend] the importance of talking to their children about the dangers of taking drugs.
They don’t (fully) grasp the implications of these changes.
feedback
(n.) helpful information or criticism that is given to someone to say what can be done to improve a performance, product, etc.
Examples: The company uses customer feedback to improve its products. He asked for some feedback from his boss.
facilitate
(v.) to make (something) easier : to help cause (something)
Examples: Cutting taxes may facilitate economic recovery. Her rise to power was facilitated by her influential friends.
traits
(n.) a quality that makes one person or thing different from another
Examples: Humility is an admirable trait. [=quality]. This dog breed has a number of desirable traits.
optimism
(n.) a feeling or belief that good things will happen in the future : a feeling or belief that what you hope for will happen
Examples: Both of them expressed optimism about the future of the town. The early sales reports are cause/reason/grounds for optimism.
debt
(n.) an amount of money that you owe to a person, bank, company, etc.
Examples: He is trying to pay off gambling debts. The company has run up huge debts.
circumstance
(n.) a condition or fact that affects a situation
Examples: I can’t imagine a circumstance in/under which I would do that.
— usually plural
If our business is to survive, we must be able to adapt to changing circumstances.
outlook
(n.) the way that a person thinks about things
Examples: The students all seemed to have the same outlook.
— often + on
The book totally changed my outlook on politics.
They had very different outlooks on the world.
frustrated
(adj.) very angry, discouraged, or upset because of being unable to do or complete something
Examples: By the end of the day, we were all feeling very tired and frustrated. They were getting pretty frustrated with/at the delay.
misunderstand
(v.) to fail to understand (someone or something) correctly
Examples: Don’t misunderstand me—I’m not criticizing your decision. You misunderstood my question.
stereotype
(n.) an often unfair and untrue belief that many people have about all people or things with a particular characteristic
Examples: racial/cultural stereotypes
(v.) to believe unfairly that all people or things with a particular characteristic are the same
Examples: It’s not fair to stereotype a whole group of people based on one person you don’t like.
pressure
(n.) a feeling of stress or anxiety because you have too much to do or because people are depending on you for something
Examples: She’s been experiencing a lot of pressure at work lately. They both work well under pressure. [=they work well when the job is stressful]
pay off debt
(v.) to fully repay money that is owed.
Example: “She worked extra hours to pay off her student loan debt as quickly as possible.”
run up debt
(v.) to accumulate or increase the amount of money owed, often by spending more than one can afford.
Example: “He ran up debt by using his credit card for daily expenses without keeping track of his spending.”
fall into debt
(v.) to begin owing money, usually because of unexpected expenses or a decrease in income.
Example: “After losing her job, she quickly fell into debt trying to cover her living expenses.”
write off debt
(v.) to cancel a debt, acknowledging that it is unlikely to be repaid, often used by businesses or lenders.
Example: “The bank decided to write off the debt from the loan after determining it was uncollectible.”
that’s a no brainer
Something very obvious or easy to decide.
Example: “Choosing the cheaper flight was a no brainer because it saved me a lot of money.”
thinking on my feet
To make quick decisions or come up with ideas immediately, without preparation.
Example Sentence: “During the interview, I had to think on my feet to answer unexpected questions.”
put on the spot
To be asked a question or put in a situation where you must respond immediately, often feeling pressured.
Example Sentence: “I was put on the spot when the teacher asked me to explain my answer in front of the class.”
splitting hairs
To focus on very small and unimportant details, often in a way that seems unnecessary.
Example Sentence: “Debating whether the meeting should start at 9:00 or 9:05 feels like splitting hairs since it won’t make a big difference to the schedule.”
rule of thumb
A general guideline or principle based on experience, not exact rules.
Example Sentence: “As a rule of thumb, you should drink at least eight glasses of water a day.”
sink in
To fully understand or realize something, often over time.
Example Sentence: “It took a while for the news to sink in, but eventually, I understood how big the change was.”
take into account
To consider something when making a decision or judgment.
Example Sentence: “You should take into account the cost of living when choosing where to study abroad.”
at stake
Something that is at risk or could be lost or gained depending on the outcome of a situation.
Example Sentence: “There’s a lot at stake in this exam, as it will affect your final grade.”
networking
Building relationships with other people, often to gain opportunities, advice, or connections for work or study.
Example Sentence: “Networking at events can help you meet people who might assist you in finding a job after graduation.”
