VOC U8 Definitions - DEF - EN

Question 1

a x opinion, rely, choice, etc. is one that you have thought about very carefully

Answer 1

considered adj. [only before noun] (The committee is meeting to prepare a considered response to the problem.)

Question 2

a fact that you think about when you are making a decision

Answer 2

consideration n. [C] (Political rather than economic considerations influenced the location of the new factory.)

Question 3

a feeling (=belief or opinion) that you are sure is right, although you cannot give a reason for it

Answer 3

gut feeling n. [C usually singular] (My gut feeling was that they would not accept the changes.)

Question 4

a group of people in a company or other organisation who make the rules and important decisions

Answer 4

board n. [C] (There was disagreement among the members of the board.)

Question 5

a mistake in the way you think about something, which affects your decisions and judgements

Answer 5

cognitive bias n. [C,U] (plural biases) (There are many kinds of cognitive biases. A common one is the tendency to only remember or believe information that supports your own opinion.)

Question 6

able to be accepted

Answer 6

agreeable adj. (The main objective is to find a solution that is agreeable to the company in terms of cost.)

Question 7

an action, plan, etc. that seems a good idea because it is likely to lead to success

Answer 7

the way forward (The way forward lies in developing more economic links.)

Question 8

continuing

Answer 8

ongoing adj. (The manufacturer provides ongoing technical support for the machine.)

Question 9

final result of a meeting, discussion etc. used when no one knows what it will be until it actually happens

Answer 9

outcom

Question 10

give or be given permission to start doing something

Answer 10

go-ahead n. [singular] (The company has been given the go-ahead to build a new supermarket.)

Question 11

how likely something is, sometimes calculated in a mathematical way

Answer 11

probability n. [C,U] (plural probabilities) (The probability of the product’s sales increasing in Japan is really very low.)

Question 12

opinion(s) about whether an idea is good or bad that influences how you deal with it; discrimination

Answer 12

biases

Question 13

particular details

Answer 13

specifics

Question 14

something that limits your freedom to do what you want

Answer 14

constraint n. [C] (Constraints on spending have forced the company to rethink its plans.)

Question 15

something you have lost or that has been damaged, but for which you have insurance that pays you the value of it

Answer 15

insured loss n. [C] (The fire caused an estimated £250 million in insured losses.)

Question 16

the ability to understand or know something because of a feeling rather than by considering the facts

Answer 16

intuition

Question 17

the advantages and disadvantages of something

Answer 17

pros and cons

Question 18

the final result of a meeting, discussion, war, etc.—used especially when no one knows what it will be until it actually happens

Answer 18

outcome n. [C] (The talks had a better outcome than we had originally hoped.)

Question 19

the process of making important decisions

Answer 19

decision-making n. [U] (Lobbyists will always try to influence the government’s decision-making process.)

Question 20

the process of saying what is likely to happen in the future, based on the information you have now

Answer 20

forecasting n. [U] (Economic forecasting is not an exact science.)

Question 21

to all work together to achieve something

Answer 21

pull together phr. v. (If we can all pull together, we’ll ‑ nish on time.)

Question 22

to be in a particular situation, state or place after a series of events, especially when you did not plan it

Answer 22

end up phr. v. (We could end up having to lower the quality of the product).

Question 23

to choose a particular person or place to do something to, especially to attack them

Answer 23

target v. [T] (It’s clear that smaller, more vulnerable banks have been targeted.)

Question 24

to decide or agree on something, especially after a long discussion

Answer 24

settle on something phr. v. [T] (Following the consultation, the council settled on a location for the new shopping centre.)

Question 25

to have an effect or influence on something

Answer 25

play a part (The skills of the two designers has played a big part in the company’s recent success.)

Question 26

to have many changes or developments to make before reaching a particular goal or state

Answer 26

be a long way off something

Question 27

to make all the things of one particular type the same as each other

Answer 27

standardise (also standardize) v. [T] (The government can not efficiently standardise an industry that literally changes by the minute.)

Question 28

to make it possible for someone to do something, or for something to happen

Answer 28

enable v. [T] (The new system enabled ambulances to reach patients much faster.)

Question 29

to tell someone that something will definitely happen or is definitely true, so that they are less worried

Answer 29

assure v. [T] (The airline has assured travellers there will be no further delays.)

Question 30

used in letters to mention a previous letter, conversation, etc. about the same matter

Answer 30

further to adv. (Further to your letter of February 5th, we can con‑ rm your order.)

Question 31

very small in degree or amount, especially the smallest degree or amount possible

Answer 31

minimal adj. (The cost to taxpayers would be minimal.)