Today’s photo: Public Trust Office, Napier, New Zealand

Part 1: Today's word:

‘Assume’ is a more formal word meaning ‘guess’. It can also mean ‘accept’ – especially in the expression ‘to assume a responsibility’. However, it can also be used for any theory or principle which is accepted without analysing or questioning it. It’s very common to do this in research reports, because you can’t research everything and, in order to make predictions, you need to imagine some elements of the situation. For example, ‘The model presented here assumes a steady inflation rate of 5%’ and ‘Assuming a continuing rise in electricity demand, Auckland will begin to suffer shortages by 2015.’ The noun is ‘assumption’. When you critique research, you will often question the assumptions made by the other researcher. For example, ‘Brown’s 2006 study assumed that domestic students had English as their first language. However, that is not strictly accurate.’

Part 2: Test

Here are four sentences with our word of the day - but only three of them are correct. Which is the odd one out?

‘I assume this is your first day on the job’, she said, noticing the look of confusion on my face.

For the sake of argument, let's assume that everyone has perfect knowledge of their first language - although, as we shall see, this claim can be challenged on a number of grounds.

Is it fair to assume that as the manager you have full access to all company information?

After finding clear evidence in his file, I assumed he was telling the truth.

Part 3: Practice Questions:

Before you started your course, what assumptions did you make about ...

the way of teaching?

the teachers?

the level and difficulty of the course?

how well you would do?

How many of these assumptions were correct?

Part 4: Kiwi Quiz Question

Which of these is not a long-distance train service in New Zealand?

Tranzalpine
Overlander
Tranzcoastal
Interislander

Part 5: Today's article:

Neurosexism - are men's and women's brains really different? (from Radio New Zealand)
http://podcast.radionz.co.nz/ocw/ocw-20080619-2144-Neurosexism-048.mp3

Vocabulary for the article:

Hard-wired / testosterone / oxytocin / legitimise / a chip on your shoulder / a blank slate / predisposition / blueprint / stereotype / empathising / immutable / not set in stone

Questions for the article:

Why does the writer John Gray think that doing housework can be beneficial to women?

Does Cordelia Fine believe that men can recognise emotions?

Why are books like “The Female Brain” so popular – with men and with women?

What gender characteristics does Cordelia Fine believe are hard-wired in the brain?

Why did researchers get people to tick different boxes before rating their own verbal or numerical abilities?

What effect does ‘stereotype threat’ have on people’s performance?

What’s Cordelia Fine’s main point about differences between the sexes?