Unit 2 : grasp (v) to understand something: He was finding it difficult

Thinking to grasp the rules of the game: nắm được, hiểu thấu (vấn
assess (v) to carefully consider a situation, person or problem đề…)
in order to make a judgment: đánh giá guesswork (n) the process of trying to find the answer to
assess (v) to calculate what sth costs or is worth: định giá something by guessing, or the answer found by using this
assume (v) to believe that sth is true, even though no one has method: sự phỏng đoán
told you or even though you have no proof: Don't assume hunch (n) a feeling that something ¡s true or will happen,
that all has been revealed. although you do not know any definite facts about it: linh
baffle (v) if a problem, s.o's behaviour, etc baffles you, you cảm
cannot understand it or solve it: Detectives remain baffled by ideology (n) a system of ideas and principles on which a
these murders. political or economic theory is based: ý thức hệ, hệ tư tưởng
biased (adj) preferring one person, thing or idea to another in (của 1 giai cấp)
a way that is unfair: thiên vị ingenious (adj) an ingenious plan, piece of equipment, etc
concentrate (v) to give all your attention to the thing you are uses new and clever ideas: khéo léo/tài tình, mưu trí
doing: tập trung inspiration (n) a sudden feeling of enthusiasm or a new idea
consider (v) to think about sth carefully before making a that helps you to do or create sth
decision or developing an opinion: She paused and intuition (n) an ability to know or understand st through your
considered for a moment. feelings, rather than by considering facts or evidence: trực
consider (v) to have a particular opinion about s.o or sth: giác
They consider it inevitable that some jobs will be lost. justify (v) to show that there is a good reason for st, esp. sth
contemplate (v) to consider doing sth in the future: I’m that other people think is wrong: bào chữa, thanh minh
contemplating retirement next year. naïve (adj) a naïve person lacks experience of life and tends
contemplate (v) to think very carefully about sth for a long to trust other people and believe things too easily
time: I haven’t got time to sit around contemplating the notion (n) an idea or understanding of sth: I haven’t the
meaning of life. faintest notion what youre talking about: khái niệm
cynical (adj) s.o who is cynical believes that people care only optimistic (adj) s.o who is optimistic is hopeful about the
bout themselves and are not sincere or honest, or expects future and tends to expect that good things will happen: lạc
things not to be successful or useful: ích kỷ/hoài nghi quan
deduce (v) to know sth as a result of considering the optimistic (adj) based on beliefs that are too confident:
information or evidence that you have: suy luận That's a very optimistic assessiment of the overall situation.
deliberate (v) to think about or discuss sth very carefully, esp. paradox (n) a person, thing or situation that is strange
before you make an important decision: cân nhắc, thảo luận because they have features or qualitles that do not normally
kỹ exist together: We get this apparent paradox of people
dilemma (n) a situation in which you have to make a dificult migrating to an area that has very high unemployment.:
decision: tình thế khó xử, thế tiến thoái lưỡng nan ngược đời
discriminate (v) to treat someone unfairly because of their pessimistic (adj) someone who is pessimistic is not hopeful
religion, race or other personal features: phân biệt đối xử about the future and tends to expect that bad things will
discriminate (v) to recognise the difference between things: happen: She said that she was pessimistic about the future of
phân biệt the company.
dubious (adj) not completely good, safe or honest: The story pessimistic (adj) thinking that the worst thing will happen in
seemed a bit dubious to me: thiếu minh bạch/mơ hồ every situation: bi quan
dubious (adj) not sure about the truth or quality of plausible (adj) likely to be true, honest or suitable: hợp lý,
something, or whether you should do something: hồ nghi, đáng tin cậy (bản tuyên bố, lời xin lỗi..)
không chắc chắn ponder (v) to think carefully about something for a long time
estimate (n) an amount that you guess or calculate using the before reaching a decision: suy nghĩ về, cân nhắc về
information available: số lượng ước đoán prejudiced (adj) s.o who is prejudiced has an unreasonable
estimate (n) a statement telling a customer how much opinion or feeling about s.o or sth, esp hatred or fear of a
money you will charge if they employ you to do a particular particular group of people: có thành kiến
piece of work: bản kê giá cả (thầu khoán) presume (v) to think sth is true because it is likely, although
estimate (v) to say what you think an amount or value will you cannot be certain: cho là; đoán chừng
be, either by guessing or by using available information to query (n) a question that you ask because you want
calculate. information or because you are not certain about something:
faith (n) strong belief in or trust of so or sth: niềm tin câu hỏi chất vấn/thắc mắc
gather (v) to believe that sth is true, although no one has query (v) to ask a question about something because you
directly told you about it: You’re new here, I gather. have doubts about it: hỏi do thắc mắc, nghi ngờ
genius (n) so who is much more intelligent or skillful than query (v) to ask something: hỏi.
other people reckon (v) to believe that sth is true: I reckon there's
genius (n) a very high level of skill or ability: Baking allows something wrong with him: cho là, nghĩ là
you to show your creative genius: cảm hứng
reflect (v) to think about sth carefully and seriously: suy nghĩ intellectual (adj) relating to the ability to think in an
sâu về, ngẫm nghĩ về (các sự kiện đã qua intelligent way and to understand things, esp difficult or
sceptical/skeptical (adj) having doubts about sth that other complicated ideas and subjects: thuộc về, có khả năng giải
people think is true or right: hoài nghi, ngờ vực quyết các vấn đề của trí tuệ
speculate (v) to consider or discuss why sth has happened: intellectual (adj) well educated and interested in art, science,
suy xét, nghiên cứu literature, etc at an advanced level: có tri thức, (thuộc) trí óc
suppose (v) to believe that sth is probably true, based on intellectual (n) someone who is well educated and interested
your experience, your knowledge and any other information in art, science, literature, etc at an advanced level: người tri
that you have: tin rằng, nghĩ rằng thức
Learning intelligent (adj) good at thinking clearly and quickly, at
academic (adj) relating to education, esp education in understanding difficult ideas and subjects, and at gaining and
colleges and universities: có tính chất học thuật using knowledge.
academic (adj) good at learning things by studying: She's intensive (adj) involving a lot of teaching or training in a short
certainly bright, but she's not very academic. time: lt’s an intensive language course for beginners: cao
academic (adj) not relating to a real situation, and therefore độ/chuyên sâu
not relevant: lý thuyết suông, không thực tế knowledgeable (adj) knowing a lot about many different
academic (n) someone who teaches or does research at a subjects or about one particular subject: am hiểu
college or university: viện sĩ lecture (n) a talk to a group of people about a particular
conscientious (adj) working hard and being careful to do subject, esp at a college or university: bài thuyết trình
things well: tận tâm, chu đáo lecture (v) to give a lecture or a series of lectures: giảng, diễn
cram (v) to study hard in order to learn a lot in a short time, thuyết
esp for an exam: luyện thi, ôn thi mock exam (n phr) an exam you take for practice before an
curriculum (n) the subjects that students study at a particular important exam.
school or college: chương trình giảng dạy plagiarise (v) to take someone else's work, ideas or words,
distance learning (n phr) a system in which students work at and use them as if they were your own: ăn cắp ý, văn (lời nói,
home with the help of TV and radio broadcasts and send ý kiến…)
work to their teachers by post or e-mail: Are you doing the self-study (n) work that you do without the help of a teacher.
course by distance learning? seminar (n) a class at a college or university in which a small
graduate (n) someone who has a degree from a university: group of students discusses a subject with a teacher: nhóm
người có bằng cấp nghiên cứu chuyên đề
graduate (v) to complete your studies at a university or special needs (n phr) the particular needs of people who are
college, usually by getting a degree physically or mentally disabled.
ignorant (adj) not knowing sth that you should know or need tuition (n) the work that a teacher does when they teach a
to know: không biết, ngu dốt particular subject, esp to one person or a small group.
inattentive (adj) not giving much attention to so or sth: lơ là, tutorial (n) a lesson in which a small group of students
thiếu chú ý discuss a subject with a tutor, esp at a university or college:
We had a very interesting tutorial on climate change

Phrases, patterns and collocations

Account: + account for: explain + off balance: make sb/sth unsteady and in danger of falling;
+ (give) an account of: do /perform well/badly, esp in a make sb surprised and no longer calm
contest Basis: + basis for
+ take into account = take account of:consider facts, reason + on a daily/temporary/etc basis: the way things are
when making a decision about sth organized or arrranged
+ on account of: because of + on the basis of/that: the reason why people take a
+ by all accounts: according to what people say particular action
+ on sb's account: because of what you think sb wants Belief: + express belief(s) , belief in/that
Associate: + associate sth with: making a connection between + contrary to popular belief: in spite of what people may
people and things in your mind think
Balance: + (hang) in the balance: uncertain + beyond belief: too great, difficult to be believed
+ strike a balance: manage to fins a way being fair to two + in the belief that: sth that you think is true
opposing things + popular/widely held/widespread/firm/strong/growing
+ upset/alter/ redress the balance: make a situation equal belief
again Brain: + pick sb's brain(s): ask sb a lot of questions about sth
+ balance between/of because they know more about the subject than you do
+ on balance: after considering all the information
+ rack your brain(s): think very hard or for a long time about + focus group: a small group of people, specially chosen to
sth represent different social classes, etc., who are asked to
+ the brains behind: the person who is responsible for discuss and give their opinions about a particular subject
thinking of and organizing something Impression: + have/give the (false) impression that, do an
+ brainless: stupid; not able to think or talk in an intelligent impression (of), first impressions
way + create/make an impression (on sb): make people admire
+ brainchild (of): an idea or invention of one person or a small you
group of people + under the impression that: believing, usually wrongly, that
+ brainstorm: (n) sự xúc động mãnh liệt (v) động não sth is true or is happening
+ brainwash: tẩy não Mental: + make a mental note (of/about): make an effort to
+ brainwave: nguồn cảm hứng thình lình store it in your memory so that you will not forget it.
Conclusion: + bring sth to a conclusion, conclusion of, logical + mental arithmetic: tính nhẩm
conclusion + mental illness: bệnh tâm thần
+ come to / arrive at / reach a conclusion: decide when you + mental age, mental health
have thought about all the information connected with the Mind: + make up your mind: decide sth
situation + cross/slip your mind: forget or forget to do
+ jump/leap to conclusions: make a decision about sb/sth too + have/bear in mind: remember sb/sth; to remember or
quickly, before you know or have thought about all the facts consider that
+ in conclusion: finally + have a one-track mind: only ever think or talk about one
+ foregone conclusion: a result that is certain to happen subject
Consideration: + give consideration to, show consideration + take your mind off: make you forget about sth unpleasant
for, for sb's consideration for a short time
+ take into consideration: think about and include a particular + bring to mind: remember/remind sb/sth
thing or fact when you are forming an opinion or making a + in two minds about: be unable to decide what you think
decision about sb/sth, or whether to do sth or not
+ under consideration: being discussed + on your mind: thinking and worrying about sth/sb a lot
+ out of consideration for: with consideration for so or sth; + state of mind: mood or mental state at a particular time
with kind regard for so or sth + narrow/broad/open/absent-minded: forgets things or does
Doubt: + doubt that , raise doubts, doubt as to ⁄ about, (a) not pay attention to what thay are doing, often because
reasonable doubt thinking about sth else.
+ have your doubts about: have reasons why you are not Misapprehension: + under the misapprehension that: a
certain about whether sth is good or whether sth good will wrong idea about sth, or sth you believe to be true that is not
happen true
+ cast doubt on: cause people to feel uncertainty about Perspective: + in perspective: đúng luật gần xa (vẽ)
something + out of perspective: không đúng luật gần xa (vẽ)
+ in doubt: be uncertain + put sth into perspective, a sense of perspective: nhìn nhận
+ beyond (any) doubt: in a way that shows that something is vấn đề một cách đơn giản (không phức tạp)
completely certain + from another / a different / sb's /etc perspective
+ without a doubt: used when you are giving your opinion + from the perspective of: từ góc nhìn
and emphasizing the point that you are making
Principle: + have principles, set of principles, principle of sth,
+ open to doubt: sth has not been proved to be definitely principle that
true or real
+ stand by / stick to your principles: giữ vững quan điểm
Dream: + dream of/about/that , a dream come true, have a
+ in principle: về nguyên tắc cơ bản
dream, a dream to
+ a matter / an issue of principle: vấn đề đạo đức
+ beyond your wildest dreams: far more, better, etc. than you
+ against sb's principles: trái đạo đức
could ever have imagined or hoped for
+ in your dreams: used to tell sb that sth they are hoping for Question: + raise the question (of), a/no question of, some
question over / as to / about, awkward question
is not likely to happen
+ in question: that is being discussed; in doubt; uncertain
+ like a dream: happens successfully without any problems/sb
do it very well + out of the question: impossible or not allowed and
Focus: + focus on, the focus of/for, , main/primary/major therefore not worth discussing
focus + without question: used for saying that sth is definitely true;
do it without asking any questions
+ in focus: rõ ràng, rõ nét
+ out of focus: mờ không rõ nét + beyond question: no doubts about it at all
+ beg the question: make sb want to ask a question that has + look on the bright side: be cheerful or positive about a bad
not yet been answered; talk about sth as if it were definitely situation, for example by thinking only of the advantages and
true, even though it might not be not the disadvantages
Sense: + sense that: a feeling about sth important Straight: + set/put sb straight about: make sure that sb is not
+ see sense: start to be sensible or reasonable mistaken about the real facts in a situation
+ make sense (of): understand sth that is difficult or has no + set/put the record straight: make sure that sb is not
clear meaning mistaken about the real facts in a situation
+ have the sense to: If you have a sense that sth is true, you + get sth straight: understand something clearly
think that it is true + think/see straight: think in a clear or logical way
+ come to your senses: start thinking reasonably. + straight talking: understand something clearly
+ a sense of: an understanding about sth; an ability to judge + straight answer: honest response, direct answer
sth + get/come straight to the point: talk about the most
+ in a/one sense: in one way important problem, matter, etc. immediately rather than
+ common sense: the ability to think about things in a have a general conversation first
practical way and make sensible decisions View: + view sth as, in sb's view, view on/about/ that,
Side: + side with sb, by sb's side + take the view that: have the opinion or belief that sth is the
+ take sides: express support for sb in a disagreement case
+ see both sides (of an argument): understand both of the + take a dim/poor view of: disapprove of sb/sth; to not have
opinions or arguments in a situation a good opinion of sb/sth
+ on the plus/minus side: used to describe the more/less + come into view: to become visible; to move closer so as to
appealing or attractive part of something be seen
+ on sb's side: support and agree with sb + in view of: considering something
+ on either side (of): on one side of something and on the + with a view to: with the intention or hope of doing sth
other side of it + viewpoint = point of view
Phrasal Verbs
brush up (on): practise and improve your skills or knowledge of piece together: learn the truth about sth by considering all the
something separate bits of information you have
come (a)round (to): change your opinion or decision because puzzle out: solve a confusing or complicated problem by thinking
someone has persuaded you to agree with them carefully about it
come up with: think of something such as an idea or a plan read up (on/about): get information on a particular subject by
face up to: accept something and try to deal with it reading a lot about it
figure out: be able to understand something or solve a problem; swot up (on): study sth very hard, esp for an examination
understand what someone is like and why they behave in the take in: understand and remember sth that you hear or read;
way they do accept sth as real or true; trick s.o into believing sth that is not
hit upon: suddenly have an idea; discover something by chance true
make out: see, hear or understand s.o or sth with difficulty; think over: consider a problem or decision carefully
suggest, imply think through: consider the facts about sth in an organised and
mull over: think carefully about sth over a period of time thorough way
think up: invent or imagine sth, especially an excuse
Idioms
go to your head: lf success goes to your head, it makes you think that you are better or more important than you really are
have your wits about you: be able to think quickly and make sensible decisions
in the dark (about): not knowing very much about sth, because other people are keeping it secret from you
know what’s what: know the important facts about a situation
not have a leg to stand on: not have any way of proving that you are right about sth
not see the wood for the trees: used for saying that someone cannot understand what is important in a situation because they are
thinking too much about small details
put two and two together: guess what is happening or what sth means based on what you have seen or heard
quick/slow on the uptake: taking a very short/long time to understand or realise sth
ring a bell: sth that rings a bell sounds familiar to you, although you cannot remember the exact details
round the bend: crazy
split hairs: argue or worry about very small details or differences that are not important
take stock (of): spend some time thinking about the situation you are in before you decide what to do next
 Word Formation
Assume: đảm đương; thừa nhận, làm bộ Define rationalisation: sự hợp lý hóa
assumption: giả định, sự giả bộ/gánh vác definition rationalist: người theo chủ nghĩa duy lý
assuming: kiêu căng, ngạo mạn defined: định nghĩa, định rõ rationalism: chủ nghĩa duy lý
unassuming: khiêm tốn definitive(Iy): cuối cùng; dứt khoát (ir)rationality: sự hợp lý/tính phi lý
assumed: làm ra vẻ, giả bộ (in)definite(ly): rõ ràng, rạch ròi, dứt khoát (ir)rational(ly)
Believe Doubt Reason
disbelieve  disbelieving doubter reasoning: lập luận, tranh luận
belief: lòng tin, sự tin tưởng doubtful(ly): nghi ngại, hồ nghi reasonableness: tính hợp lý, sự vừa phải
disbelief: sự hoài nghi unadoubted(ly): rõ ràng, không bị hoài nghi (un)reasonable: hợp lý, vừa phải, biết lẽ phải
(un)believer: người không tín ngưỡng doubtless: không còn hồ nghi gì nữa reasoned: trình bày hợp lý/có biện luận chặt
(un)believable Explain chẽ
unbelievably explanation (un)reasonably: hợp lý, cùa phải
Brilliant: lấp lánh, thông minh, nổi bật explanatory: có tính cách thanh minh Sane: có đầu óc lành mạnh
brilliance: sự sáng chói, sự tài giỏi unexplained (in)sanity: sự minh mẫn/sáng suốt
brilliantly: vẻ vang, sáng chói (in)explicable: có/không thể giải thích được insane(ly): điên cuồng, điên rồ
Conceive: quan niệm, có ý tưởng trong đầu Inexplicably: không giải thích được Sense
conceptualise: form an idea of sth in your Imagine (de)sensitise: làm cho nhạy cảm/cho dễ cảm
mind imagination động
concept: khái niệm, ý niệm chung imaginings: things you imagined, only exist in nonsense: lời nói vô lý; hành động ngu dại
conception: quan niệm, ý niệm your mind sensitivity: tính dễ cảm xúc
conceptual: dựa trên các khái niệm imaginary: tưởng tượng, không có thật sensibility: cảm giác, tính đa cảm
(in)conceivable: có thể hiểu được (un)imaginative(ly): giàu tưởng tượng senseless(ness): bất tỉnh, điên rồ, vô nghĩa
(in)conceivably: có thề tin/hình dung được Judge sensible: có óc xét đoán, biết điều
Confuse: làm cho lúng túng/lộn xộn judg(e)ment nonsensical: vô lý, vô nghĩa, bậy bạ
confusion: sự lộn xộn/lẫn lộn/bối rối judiciary: (thuộc) pháp luật/tòa án sensibly: một cách hợp lý
confused judiciousness: sự sáng suốt, thận trọng sensitive(ly): nhạy cảm, dễ bị ảnh hưởng
confusing(ly): khó hiểu, bối rối judicious: tỏ ra hoặc có đầu óc sáng suốt Think
Convince: thuyết phục judicial: thuộc hoặc bởi tòa án; có khả năng thought
conviction: sự thuyết phục/kết án suy xét sáng suốt thinker: nhà tư tưởng
(un)convinced: tin chắc, đoàn chắc judg(e)mental: _ judging pp and criticizing thinking
(un)convincing(ly): có sức thuyết phục them too quickly _ connected with the thoughtfulness
process of judging things thoughtlessness
Decide
judiciously: sáng suốt, khôn ngoan (un)thinkable
decision
Logic thoughtful(ly)
decider: trận quyết đấu
(iI)logical(ly) thoughtless(ly)
decisiveness: tính quyết định, quả quyết
Opinion Wise: khôn ngoan, thông thái
deciding: có tác dụng quyết định
opinionated: cứng đầu, ngoan cố wisdom: sự sáng suốt/uyên thâm
(in)decisive(ly): quyết định; dứt khoát
Rational: có lý trí/chừng mực (un)wise(ly)
rationalise: hợp lý hóa( 1 ngành sản xuất);
làm cho phù hợp với lẽ phải