Daily Quick Fix – 9 (Phrases, words)

Critical thinking skills are essential in every industry at every career level, from entry-level associates to top executives. Good critical thinkers can work both independently and with others to solve problems. Issues such as process inefficiencies, management or finances can be improved by using critical thought.

Because of this, employers value and seek out candidates who demonstrate strong critical thinking skills. Being objective is a fundamental part of critical thinking. That means analysing the problem without allowing personal bias, emotions or assumptions to influence how you think. A strong critical thinker will only analyse a problem based on the context and facts collected after conducting thorough and impartial research.
(Способный к критическому мышлению человек будет анализировать проблему только на основе контекста и фактов, собранных после проведения тщательного и беспристрастного исследования.)

1. Rational /ˈræʃᵊnᵊl/
Sensible, logical, and using reason.
[0:12] In debate, persuasive arguments and oratory skills are used to appeal not only to our rational side, but also to our emotions.

2. Slippery slope /ˈslɪpᵊri sləʊp/
Idea or course of action which will lead to something disastrous.
[1:15] A slippery slope is when someone argues that a small change will have a disastrous impact.

3. Personal attack /ˈpɜːsᵊnᵊl əˈtæk/
Making damaging remarks relating to somebody's lifestyle or choices.
[1:50] A personal attack is when an opponent's arguments are ignored, and they are attacked personally instead.

4. To be committed /kəˈmɪtɪd/
Feeling dedication and loyalty to a cause, activity, job, or person.
[1:56] I am committed to fighting for clean air in our community!

5. To be worth something /wɜːθ ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
To be important or interesting enough to deserve something
[2:26] You either support this plan, or you decide that our women aren't worth investing in!

'Out' Phrasal verbs

Find out (to discover)

• I found out that my boss is going to give me a bonus at the end of the year!

Figure out (find the answer/solution to a problem)

• I can't figure out why the wifi keeps cutting out.

Work something out (to solve a problem)

• We will work everything out in the end.

Sort out (to resolve a problem or difficulty)

• Keeping an organised schedule will help you sort out your time management problems.

Turn out (to result in something - good or bad)

• How did the conversation with your brother turn out?

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All people experience fluctuations in their motivation and willpower. Sometimes you feel fired up and highly driven to reach your goals. Other times, you might feel listless or unsure of what you want or how to achieve it. If you're feeling low on motivation, there are steps you can take to help increase your drive. Adjust your goals to focus on things that really matter to you.

Focusing on things that are highly important to you will help push you through your challenges more than goals based on things that are low in importance. If you're tackling something that feels too big or too overwhelming, break it up into smaller, more manageable steps. Then, set your sights on achieving only the first step. Instead of trying to lose 50 pounds, for example, break this goal down into five-pound increments.

1. Extrinsic /ɛkˈstrɪnzɪk/
Originating on the outside.
[0:15] ... Extrinsic is motivation for an external reward, like a prize.

2. Intrinsic /ɪnˈtrɪnzɪk/
Being an extremely important / fundamental characteristic.
[0:20] ... Intrinsic on the other hand, is motivation for an internal reward.

3. Accomplished /əˈkʌmplɪʃt/
Able to do or finish something successfully; skilled.
[0:23] ... like feeling accomplished or satisfied.

4. Take in /teɪk ɪn/
To receive into the mind.
[0:33] Our brains take in lots of information.

5. Optimise /ˈɒptɪmaɪz/
To make as perfect, effective, or functional as possible.
[1:00] Trying to understand what motivates you is the first step in optimising and directing your natural motivation.
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Adjectives Ending in -ed vs. -ing

-ED: To Express Feelings 

• I am bored. (I feel bored.)
• Are you tired? (Do you feel tired?)
• Sarah is excited for her trip to Europe. (Sarah feels excited.)
• He's really interested in horticulture. (This is his personal feeling about horticulture.)

-ING: To Express Opinions

• This movie is very boring (in my opinion).
• It has been a very tiring day (in my opinion).
• Sarah's trip is going to be so exciting (in my opinion)!
• He thinks horticulture is more interesting than modern art. (That's his opinion.)

Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, experience of media closures, layoffs and salary cuts were frequent across the globe. While the media business in each country operated within its own unique agreements and economic systems, the worldwide media crisis increased.

More than a year after COVID-19 spread across the globe, researchers and media reporters in some countries carefully tracked media industry cutbacks in the pandemic’s wake; in others, specific data was scarce. Reporting on industry descent was a tedious matter, with a broad range of changes within newsrooms, in addition to steering some worthy attention away from the good news: the innovative and determined journalism practitioners working to fill the gaps.

1. Hold someone to account /həʊld ˈsʌmwʌn tuː əˈkaʊnt/
To require someone to accept responsibility for their actions.
[0:21] It can hold the powerful to account and prevent the abuse of power.

2. Ad revenue /æd ˈrɛvənjuː/
Income from advertisements being shown on your content.
[1:02] News organisations made money from clicks that could be converted into ad revenue.

3. Clickbait /klɪkbeɪt/
Content with the main purpose is of attracting attention and clicks.
[2:02] In a bid to increase audiences and the ad revenue that comes with them, outlets focus on entertainment and clickbait.

4. Crowdfunding /kraʊdˈfʌndɪŋ/
Raising money from small contributions made by many people.
[3:08] Crowdfunding and donations tend to be time limited, so are unlikely to be the most sustainable models.

5. Allegiance /əˈliːʤᵊns/
Commitment to a superior or to a group or cause.
[3:18] The membership model gives the audience different levels of access as well as a sense of allegiance to a news outlet.

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1. Rational /ˈræʃᵊnᵊl/
Sensible, logical, and using reason.

2. Slippery Slope /ˈslɪpᵊri sləʊp/
Idea or course of action which will lead to something disastrous.

3. Personal Attack /ˈpɜːsᵊnᵊl əˈtæk/
Making damaging remarks relating to somebody's lifestyle or choices.

4. To be committed /kəˈmɪtɪd/ 
Feeling dedication and loyalty to a cause, activity, job, or person.

5. To be worth something /wɜːθ ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
To be important or interesting enough to deserve something.

6. Extrinsic /ɛkˈstrɪnzɪk/
Originating on the outside.

7. Intrinsic /ɪnˈtrɪnzɪk/
Being an extremely important / fundamental characteristic.

8. Accomplished /əˈkʌmplɪʃt/
Able to do or finish something successfully; skilled.

9. Take in /teɪk ɪn/
To receive into the mind.

10. Optimise /ˈɒptɪmaɪz/
To make as perfect, effective, or functional as possible.

11. Hold someone to account /həʊld ˈsʌmwʌn tuː əˈkaʊnt/ 
To require someone to accept responsibility for their actions.

12. Ad revenue /æd ˈrɛvənjuː/
Income from advertisements being shown on your content.

13. Clickbait /klɪkbeɪt/
Content with the main purpose is of attracting attention and clicks.

14. Crowdfunding /kraʊdˈfʌndɪŋ/
Raising money from small contributions made by many people.

15. Allegiance /əˈliːʤᵊns/
Commitment to a superior or to a group or cause.

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1. Metrics /ˈmɛtrɪks/
A system or standard of measurement.
[1:30] Those are the metrics that really matter. Not the metrics of: "Do you come to work on time?" "Did you take your vacation?"

2. Performance Review /pəˈfɔːməns rɪˈvjuː/
An assessment to evaluate an employee's work performance.
[2:50] Let's take the annual performance review. What else do you do in your whole life that you're really good at that you only do once a year?

3. Sloppy /ˈslɒpi/
Careless and unsystematic; excessively casual.
[3:31] The company was rocky and things weren't getting done on time, and he felt like things were sloppy.

4. To pooh-pooh /puːˈpuː/ 
To dismiss an idea or suggestion as being foolish or impractical.
[4:16] They are always pooh-poohing the companies that I work with, "That is such a stupid idea."

5. To shift your thinking /ʃɪft jɔː ˈθɪŋkɪŋ/
Change your way of thinking or opinion regarding something.
[4:35] I want you to shift your thinking to say, "Think about the way it's going to be."

Confusing Prepositional Phrases

In the end / At the end

• He didn’t want to come at first, but we talked a lot, and in the end, he agreed. (finally)
• We will answer any questions at the end of the meeting. (last action/place)

On time / In time

• The train departed on time, so we caught our plane without problems. (punctual)
• We arrived at the office in time to grab a coffee. (not late)

On the way / In the way

• I bought milk on the way to work. (about to arrive)
• We couldn’t drive any further because there was a fallen tree in the way. (a blocking obstacle)

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