Interactions

To interfere: to slow something down or make worse by getting in the way.

Having too many meetings is interfering with our work.

I told her to leave us alone and not to interfere in our problems.

Fill in the blanks:

We can't finish the project on time if she continues to interfere by asking too many questions.

To reflect: to think about or consider something, or to throw back an image, as from a mirror.

Before I make a decision, I'd like some time to reflect.

When you look into a mirror, your image is reflected back to you.

Fill in the blanks:

When I reflect on something, I look at it again and again in my mind and try to see all sides of it.

To influence: to have an effect on something.

I think she can help us influence the others.

I don't think we can influence the final result.

They don't care what we think, so it will be difficult to influence their decision.

Fill in the blanks:

There's nothing we can do to influence the result because they don't care anything except money.

To focus: to bring attention to something and make it clear.

If we don't focus on something, we won't get anything done.

We aren't sure what to focus on, so everyone is confused.

Fill in the blanks:

It's important to focus, but you have to be careful not to get lost in details.

To exaggerate: to describe something as larger or more important than it really is.

It's difficult to believe what he says because he always exaggerates.

She said she could sell anything, but of course that was an exaggeration.

Exercises:

1. She said she was fluent in English, but she was exaggerating, so it's no surprise that she makes so many mistakes.

2. Before making a quick decision, he needs some time to reflect.

3. I'm afraid this terrible news may influence their decision.

4. If things are unclear and confusing, we need to focus on something.

5. To describe something as larger or more important than it really is —— to exaggerate.

6. When you look into a mirror, your image is reflected back to you.

7. We aren't sure what to focus on, so everyone is confused.

8. It's difficult to believe what he says because he always exaggerates.

Repeat & Read Sentences:

1. All that noise is interfering with my ability to think.

2. I don't think we can influence the final result.

3. It's difficult to believe what he says because he always exaggerates.

4. After finishing the project, he looked back and reflected on what might have been done to make it better.

5. If we don't focus on something, we won't get anything done.

Features of Information

To be persuasive: able to cause people to do something by asking or giving reasons.

She is good at selling things, because she is very persuasive.

You can be more persuasive if you have facts to support you.

Fill in the blanks:

He isn't very persuasive because people don't trust him.

To be convincing: to provide powerful support for a believe and to overcome doubts.

The evidence that he was murdered was convincing.

I couldn't convince them that I was telling the truth, so they arrested me.

Fill in the blanks:

They weren't convinced that the date was useful, because it was too disorganized.

To be misleading: to lead away from the truth, to give a false idea.

Their advertisements are misleading, so be careful not to be fooled.

He tried to mislead me into buying it by exaggerating the benefits.

Fill in the blanks:

The claims made by that company mislead me into buying something that didn't work.

To be unique: to be highly unusual or different from others.

I like that design, because it's unique and attractive.

She has a unique personality that some people don't like.

Fill in the blanks:

They try too hard to be unique, but they should focus more on quality and better service.

To be ordinary: to be just like others, not different from any other.

Their products are ordinary with nothing except a low price to recommend them.

The food at that restaurant was expensive, but the taste was ordinary.

Exercises:

1. Able to cause people to do something by asking or giving reasons —— to be persuasive.

2. To be highly unusual or different from others —— to be unique.

3. To lead away from the truth, to give a false idea —— to be misleading.

4. To be just like others, not different from any other —— to be ordinary.

5. They said they were special, but their designs were ordinary and boring.

6. Their products are ordinary with nothing except a low price to recommend them.

7. I couldn't convince them that I was telling the truth, so they arrested me.

8. He tried to mislead me into buying it by exaggerating the benefits.

Repeat & Read Sentences:

1. There is nothing ordinary about her, so we should give her a promotion.

2. Their advertisements are misleading, so be careful not to be fooled.

3. She is good at selling things because she is very persuasive.

4. Their demonstration was boring and disorganized, so it failed to persuade anyone.

5. He tried to mislead me into buying it by exaggerating the benefits.