一些英英釋義。

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Every day, a sea of decisions stretches before us. Some are small and unimportant, but others have a larger impact on our lives. For example, which politician should I vote for? Should I try the latest diet craze? Or will email make me a millionaire?

stretch?/stret?/:??to extend in length

(sketch?/sket?/:?make a rough drawing of.?)

politician:?a person who is professionally involved in politics, especially as a holder of or a candidate for an elected office.

millionaire: million+aire, 百萬富翁

We're bombarded with so many decisions?that it's impossible to make a perfect choice every time.?But there are many ways to improve our chances,?and one particularly effective technique is critical thinking.?

bombard:?attack (a place or person) continuously with bombs,?shells, or other?missiles.

critical:?expressing or involving an analysis of the?merits?and?faults?of a work of literature, music, or art.

This is a way of approaching a question?that allows us to carefully deconstruct a situation,?reveal its hidden issues, such as bias and manipulation,?and make the best decision.?

deconstruct:?to take apart or examine (something) in order to reveal the basis or composition often with the intention of exposing biases, flaws, or inconsistencies

reveal:?to make (something secret or hidden) publicly or generally known

bias:?an inclination of temperament or outlook,?especially : a personal and sometimes unreasoned judgment : prejudic

manipulation:?to manage or utilize skillfully

If the critical part sounds negative that's because in a way it is.?Rather than choosing an answer because it feels right,?a person who uses critical thinking?subjects all available options to scrutiny and skepticism.?Using the tools at their disposal,?they'll eliminate everything but the most useful and reliable information.?

scrutiny: scru+tiny,?a searching study, inquiry, or inspection?:?examintaion

skepticism:?an attitude of doubt or a disposition to incredulity either in general or toward a particular object.???(?Synonym of skepticism: doubt: a feeling or attitude that one does not know the truth, truthfulness, or trustworthiness of someone or something )

disposal: dis+posal,?the action or process of throwing away or getting rid of something.

eliminate:?completely remove or get rid of (something).

There are many different ways of approaching critical thinking,?but here's one five-step process?that may help you solve any number of problems.?

One: formulate your question.?In other words, know what you're looking for.?This isn't always as straightforward as it sounds.?For example, if you're deciding whether to try out the newest diet craze,?your reasons for doing so may be obscured by other factors,?like claims that you'll see results in just two weeks.?But if you approach the situation?with a clear view of what you're actually trying to accomplish by dieting,?whether that's weight loss,?better nutrition,?or having more energy,?that'll equip you to sift through this information critically,?find what you're looking for,?and decide whether the new fad really suits your needs.?

formulate:?express (an idea) in a concise or systematic way.

straightforward: straight+forward,?uncomplicated and easy to do or understand.

obscured:?make unclear and difficult to understand./ overshadow

accomplish: ac+complish, achieve or complete successfully

nutrition: 營養(yǎng)/?the process of providing or obtaining the food necessary for health and growth.

equip:?supply with the necessary items for a particular purpose.? ex. "all bedrooms are equipped with a color TV"

fad:?a practice or interest followed for a time with exaggerated zeal

Two: gather your information.?There's lots of it out there,?so having a clear idea of your question will help you determine what's relevant.?If you're trying to decide on a diet to improve your nutrition,?you may ask an expert for their advice,?or seek other people's testimonies.?Information gathering helps you weigh different options,?moving you closer to a decision that meets your goal.?

determine:?cause (something) to occur in a particular way; be the decisive factor in.

relevant:?closely connected or appropriate to what is being done or considered.

Three: apply the information,?something you do by asking critical questions.?Facing a decision, ask yourself, "What concepts are at work?"?"What assumptions exist?"?"Is my interpretation of the information logically sound?"?For example, in an email that promises you millions,?you should consider, "What is shaping my approach to this situation?"?"Do I assume the sender is telling the truth?"?"Based on the evidence, is it logical to assume I'll win any money?"?

logically:?according to the rules of logic or formal argument.

assume:?suppose to be the case, without proof.

Four: consider the implications.?Imagine it's election time,?and you've selected a political candidate based on their promise?to make it cheaper for drivers to fill up on gas.?At first glance, that seems great.?But what about the long-term environmental effects??If gasoline use is less restricted by cost,?this could also cause a huge surge in air pollution,?an unintended consequence that's important to think about.?

implication:?something implied

restricted:?not general: limited

surge:?to rise and move in waves or billows

unintended: un+intended,?not planned as a purpose or goal?

Five: explore other points of view.?Ask yourself why so many people are drawn?to the policies of the opposing political candidate.?Even if you disagree with everything that candidate says,?exploring the full spectrum of viewpoints?might explain why some policies that don't seem valid to you appeal to others.?This will allow you to explore alternatives,?evaluate your own choices,?and ultimately help you make more informed decisions.?

spectrum: ( Synonym: range:?the distance or extent between possible extremes )

valid:?logically correct

alternative: n.?something which can be chosen instead.? ex. "The only alternative to intervention."

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?v. offering or expressing a choice.? ex. "several alternative plans"

ultimately:?in the end

This five-step process is just one tool,?and it certainly won't eradicate difficult decisions from our lives.?But it can help us increase the number of positive choices we make.?Critical thinking can give us the tools to sift through a sea of information?and find what we're looking for.?And if enough of us use it,?it has the power to make the world a more reasonable place.

eradicate:?destroy completely; put an end to it.? ex. "this disease has been eradicated from the world"

sift:?examine (something) thoroughly so as to isolate that which is most important or useful. ?ex. "until we sift the evidence ourselves, we can't comment objectively"