The Psychology of Persuasion, as Told by an Ivy League Professor

Question 1

Infinitesimally small

Answer 1

adverb - adjective
Extremely small
* The difference in profit margins between the two strategies was infinitesimally small.
* The likelihood of a cybersecurity breach in our system is infinitesimally small.

Question 2

Likelihood

Answer 2

noun
The probability or chance of something happening
* The likelihood of achieving our sales targets increases with stronger marketing efforts.
* Given the high likelihood of success, we decided to invest in the new product line.

Question 3

Turn out at the polls

Answer 3

verbal phrase
To participate in voting by going to a polling station
* A strong effort was made to encourage more people to turn out at the polls this year.
* The campaign’s success depended on how many young voters turned out at the polls.

Question 4

Competent

Answer 4

adjective
Having the necessary skills, knowledge, or ability to perform a task successfully
* She is a competent manager who consistently meets project deadlines.
* He’s competent in using various software tools for graphic design.

Question 5

Trait

Answer 5

noun
A characteristic or quality in a person’s personality
* One of the most important leadership traits in today’s fast-paced business environment is adaptability.
* Patience is a key trait that customer service representatives must possess.

Question 6

Desired actions

Answer 6

adjective - noun
Specific behaviors or steps that are expected to achieve a goal
* The desired actions for the project are to meet the deadline and stay within budget.
* To improve customer satisfaction, desired actions include faster response times.

Question 7

Charismatic

Answer 7

adjective
Having a magnetic charm or presence that attracts and influences others
* A charismatic CEO can create a strong company culture by motivating employees and fostering loyalty.
* Charismatic leaders often drive change by instilling confidence in their teams during challenging times.

Question 8

Noteworthy

Answer 8

adjective
Something that is important due to its quality or uniqueness
* Her presentation was particularly noteworthy for its innovative approach to problem-solving.
* The noteworthy feature of this product is its eco-friendly design.

Question 9

Linguistic

Answer 9

adjective
Related to language
* The company is focusing on linguistic training to improve communication between international teams.
* The team’s linguistic skills are crucial in providing excellent support to our global clientele.

Question 10

Persuasive

Answer 10

adjective
The ability to convince or influence others
* She made a persuasive argument that secured a higher salary for the entire team.
* A persuasive leader can inspire employees to align with the company’s vision and goals.

Question 11

Filler

Answer 11

noun
Unnecessary words or sounds in speech that don’t add meaning
* To make your presentation more effective, you should eliminate fillers like ‘um’ and ‘you know.’
* Frequent use of fillers in meetings can distract from your main points and weaken your argument.

Question 12

Censor

Answer 12

verb
To suppress or remove content someone expresses
* The company’s social media team decided to censor certain customer comments that violated their code of conduct.
* The PR team decided to censor the press release to avoid any backlash.

Question 13

Pivotal moments

Answer 13

adjective - noun
Key moments that have a major impact on the course of events
* Launching the e-commerce platform was a pivotal moment, transforming the company into a digital leader.
* The acquisition of a competitor marked a pivotal moment that doubled the company’s market share.