2. Prove It!

Question 1

hypothesize
[hahy-POTH-uh-sahyz]

Answer 1

to propose a possible explanation

After studying the evidence, the detective ______________ that the death was an unfortunate accident and not a murder.

Question 2

posit
[POZ-it]

Answer 2

to put forward as an argument

The scientist ______________ a theory about how birds navigate during migration.

Question 3

postulate
[POS-chuh-leyt]

Answer 3

to propose for the sake of an argument

In his book, the author ______________ that the universe is actually a simulation, and not a three-dimensional reality

Question 4

conjecture
[kuhn-JEK-cher]

Answer 4

to form an opinion without sufficient evidence

I ______________ that someone had thrown a rock and broken the window, but I couldn’t prove it.

Question 5

speculate
[SPEK-yuh-leyt]

Answer 5

to come up with conclusions without knowing the facts

Magazines ______________ about what the actress would choose for her next role without having any official information to share. Until there is some evidence for your theory, it is nothing more than ______________ .

Question 6

surmise
[ser-MAHYZ]

Answer 6

to make an educated guess based on incomplete information

Although she wasn’t sure where her friend had gone, she ______________ that she had gone to the store.

Question 7

presume
[pri-ZOOM]

Answer 7

to suppose something to be true without proof or confirmation

He ______________ that the meeting had been cancelled, but he wasn’t certain until he received confirmation from his boss.

Question 8

supposition
[suhp-uh-ZISH-uhn]

Answer 8

a belief based on limited evidence

The journalist’s article was based on a ______________ that the company was engaging in unethical practices, but there was no evidence to support this claim