THINKING
1. assess (v)
2. assume (v)
3. baffle (v)
4. biased (adj)
5. concentrate (v)
6. consider (v)
7. consider (v)
8. contemplate (v)
9. contemplate (v)
10. cynical (adj)
11. deduce (v)
12. deliberate (v)
13. dilemma (n)
14. discriminate (v)
15. dubious (adj) not completely good, safe or honest: The story seemed a bit dubious to
me.
16. dubious (adj) not sure about the truth or quality of something, or whether you should
do something: I'm very dubious about his ability to do the job.
17. estimate (n) an amount that you guess or calculate using the
18. information available: According to official estimates, over 25% of carbon emissions
come from the United States.
19. estimate (n) a statement telling a customer how much money you will charge if they
employ you to do a particular piece of work: The committee are currently getting
estimates for repairs to the stonework.
20. estimate (v) to say what you think an amount or value will be, either by guessing or by
using available information to calculate it: It's difficult to estimate the cost of making
your house safe.
21. faith (n) strong belief in or trust of someone or something: I'm delighted to know you
have such faith in me.
22. gather (v) to believe that something is true, although no one has directly told you
about it: You're new here, I gather.
23. genius (n) someone who is much more intelligent or skilful than other people: She
was a mathematical genius.
24. genius (n) a very high level of skill or ability: Baking allows you to show your creative
genius.
25. grasp (v) to understand something: He was finding it difficult to grasp the rules of the
game.
26. guesswork (n) the process of trying to find the answer to something by guessing, or
the answer found by using this method: It was a theory based on pure guesswork.
27. hunch (n) a feeling that something is true or will happen, although you do not know
any definite facts about it: I've got a hunch there'll be an election soon.
28. ideology (n) a system of ideas and principles on which a political or economic theory
is based: State control is a fundamental aspect of Marxist ideology.
29. ingenious (adj) an ingenious plan, piece of equipment, etc uses new and clever ideas:
This is an ingenious device for opening bottles.
30. inspiration (n) a sudden feeling of enthusiasm or a new idea that helps you to do or
create something: Dreams are a rich source of inspiration for some writers.
31. intuition (n) an ability to know or understand something through your feelings, rather
than by considering facts or evidence: Archaeologists often use their intuition to
decide where to dig.
32. justify (v) to show that there is a good reason for something, especially something
that other people think is wrong: You'll be expected to justify your actions.
33. naïve (adj) a naïve person lacks experience of life and tends to trust other people and
believe things too easily: I was a naïve 17-year-old at the time.
34. notion (n) an idea or understanding of something: I haven't the faintest notion what
you're talking about.
35. optimistic (adj) someone who is optimistic is hopeful about the future and tends to
expect that good things will happen: She said that she was optimistic about the future
of the company.
36. optimistic (adj) based on beliefs that are too confident: That's a very optimistic
assessment of the overall situation.
37. paradox (n) a person, thing or situation that is strange because they have features or
qualities that do not normally exist together: We get this apparent paradox of people
migrating to an area that has very high unemployment.
38. pessimistic (adj) someone who is pessimistic is not hopeful about the future and
tends to expect that bad things will happen: She said that she was pessimistic about
the future of the company.
39. pessimistic (adj) thinking that the worst thing will happen in every situation: That's a
very pessimistic assessment of the overall situation.
40. plausible (adj) likely to be true, honest or suitable: A bomb was the only plausible
explanation for the crash.
41. ponder (v) to think carefully about something for a long time before reaching a
decision: I'm still pondering whether to tell Janine or not.
42. prejudiced (adj) someone who is prejudiced has an unreasonable opinion or feeling
about someone or something, especially hatred or fear of a particular group of
people: Rafferty's reporting was clearly biased and prejudiced against the homeless.
43. presume (v) to think something is true because it is likely, although you cannot be
certain: I presume you've already ordered lunch.
44. query (n) a question that you ask because you want information or because you are
not certain about something: We have a number of queries regarding delivery.
45. query (v) to ask a question about something because you have doubts about it: It is
not for us to query his decisions.
46. query (v) to ask something: Who would do such a thing?' he queried.
47. reckon (v) to believe that something is true: I reckon there's something wrong with
him.
48. sceptical/skeptical (adj) having doubts about something that other people think is true
or right: Harrison approved the plan, but Riley remained sceptical.
49. speculate (v) to consider or discuss why something has happened: We can only
speculate on the reasons for his sudden resignation.
In a world filled with complex dilemmas, assessing the motivations behind
people's actions can often baffle even the most astute observers. One might
assume that individuals act purely out of self-interest, yet a deeper
contemplation reveals a more intricate web of ideologies at play. Take, for
instance, the case of a seemingly naïve young entrepreneur whose ingenious
ideas have garnered both admiration and skepticism. While some are optimistic
about her potential, others remain dubious, questioning whether her faith in her
vision is justified. This bias can lead to prejudiced judgments, where individuals
discriminate against her based on their hunches rather than objective evidence.
In such scenarios, it’s essential to concentrate on gathering information and
estimating the true value of one's contributions. Guesswork can cloud our
understanding, and relying solely on intuition may lead us astray. Instead, we
should deliberate carefully, pondering the paradox of human behavior: why do
people often act against their own best interests, even when they grasp the
consequences?
As we speculate on these questions, we must also reckon with our own biases
and assumptions. Are we being too cynical or overly optimistic in our
assessments? By striving to remain open-minded and questioning our
preconceived notions, we can foster a more nuanced understanding of the world
around us. Ultimately, it is through this process of critical thinking and self-
reflection that we can hope to deduce meaningful insights and perhaps inspire a
more empathetic society.
